In May I was contacted through a longtime family friend about a non-profit with whom she volunteers, that looking for a videographer to help document their work on a June trip to Ethiopia. With no paid work on the calendar, I was excited to donate my time and equipment to aid their cause.  The group, Water to Thrive, funds and oversees construction of clean water projects in rural communities throughout Ethiopia.  For me this was a very special opportunity.  Not only was it a A marvelous chance to get to see a new country, it was also a chance to shoot something outside the norm of my natural history work, while helping tell the story about a really important issue.

The lack of clean water presents a myriad of health problems in these communities, with a staggering number of children lost to water born illnesses.  On top of that, even the dirty water the people are forced to seek out can often be a long and hard walk for the women and children fetching it.  Giving people ready access to clean water is the first and most fundamental step towards improving their health and the lives of the entire community.

Sorry – Please forgive my tardiness in getting this blog back up to speed.  This post will be completed later.