Vietnam Humanitarian Media trip

maggie soladay — Mon, 17 Aug 2009 22:03:21 +0000

Only 5 months till SalaamGarage takes on another great cause. On January 11, 2010 SalaamGarage’s Vietnam team and Peacetrees Vietnam NGO will be eating pho and bun in cafe in Hanoi. We’ll be sharing photography experiences with Jennifer Le, a talented Hanoi based social documentary photographer, and other media creators. After a day of sightseeing and adjusting to the new time zone we’ll be off on our journey to central Vietnam.

Quang Tri Provence in Vietnam was the most heavily bombed region the world has ever seen. Quang Tri City was the center of the Tet Offensive battleground in 1968. From 1968 through 1975 many other battles, offensives, and counter-offensives occurred here. It was the northern most province in South Vietnam till the Northern Vietnamese Viet Cong established strict rule and collective farms. Today the region is still recovering. Peacetrees Vietnam has been working in the region for 14 years and celebrates its 15th anniversary this coming year. It’s mission; to rebuild the towns and villages, revive the forest, clear landmines and unexploded ordinance, and provide assistance to survivors and families affected by the legacy of war.

Our group is the first team of journalists to be granted permission to enter the region and report on the work of Peactrees Vietnam and the people they have helped. We will meet victims and their families, visit farms, schools, and community centers, from in the jungle to coastal fishing towns in Khe Sanh, Dong Ha and Axing to Hue. Our team will meet distinct ethnic groups and experience their culture. We’ll build stories of their survival and renewal.

-Maggie Soladay

[mappress]

The little NGO that can, Vatsalya.org in Jaipur India

maggie soladay — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:00:09 +0000

We get asked all the time “what is an NGO?” Its a common question. We hope soon it will be a household word and that everyone will know that NGO means non-gonvernment organization, a non-profit.
SalaamGarage is bringing a group of incredibly talented, smart, and caring people to Rajasthan, India to help a small NGO that is doing some really big work. Starting September 19, 2009 our team of 9 media creators will embark on a one-of-a-kind humanitarian mission to help NGO Vatsalya. By telling their stories, we will help raise much needed funds in a sustainable and creative way!
See who is coming to India this September…
NGO Vatsalya runs many programs to combat the problems that are part of the severe poverty in India. What SalaamGarage loves about Jaimala, and the NGO she founded, is how much its all about solutions. We can’t wait to create these stories and meet the staff, community, and children of Vatsalya.
Our team will tell the first person stories of adults and children who have been helped and saved by Vatsalya’s programs.
Samvedna- the van that goes into Jaipur’s slums to educate the poorest children in Jaipur. Staff also work to identify homeless, orphaned, or abused children through this program.
Udayan- the home where currently there are over 57 children living safely, being educated and trained to support themselves when they become adults.
Women’s Empowerment- many programs from micro loans, to self help groups and vocational training

Help Vatsalysa.org- click here to learn more and donate to Vatsalya
I have been blogging ways anyone can tell a story. It is not enough to shoot pictures, the pictures and stories need to get out into the world in order to matter.
See below for a list of the easiest do-it-yourself websites and blogs, examples of great effective stories, and other inspirational fodder for SalaamGarage participants and everyone out there creating media!
Remembering.. “We Are The Media Now!”

-Maggie Soladay

SalaamGarage » NGO

Vietnam Humanitarian Media trip

The little NGO that can, Vatsalya.org in Jaipur India