A Photoblog Post

It's been longer than anticipated since I've been able to update the travel blog, and everything has changed! Well, not everything, but a fair amount. Right now, I'm sitting in a hotel next to the airport in Abidjan, in the Ivory Coast. I've had some serious adventures in the past few days here in the Côte d'Ivoire, but I'm going to save that story for my next post, once we actually leave the country. Just for caution's sake. 

So this post will just kind of bring things up to speed using some photos I've taken during the trip.

Here's the crew:

Anna Newell, interviewing a local politician about child slavery.

Lasse Illskov, producer of a Danish television network and resident director on set.

Ann Neilson, the brains of the whole operation (and my grandmother).

Grace Rune, who's kind of the heart of the group.

Then, of course, there's me.

Isaac Wright, resident cameraman.

We've been traveling along the west coast of Africa, and over the past week we've logged a lot of miles. It's been an absolutely fantastic experience meeting and engaging with so many absolutely wonderful people in the course of filming this documentary.

David, our guide through Nigeria and Benin and a funny, wild, genuinely good-hearted guy.

Remus, our longsuffering driver through Ghana and the Ivory Coast. Patient, kind, and a family man!

We also met just a lot of friendly African folks. I don't think I've met a more happy people. Despite their often indigent circumstances, their is a joy in their everyday interactions that is truly sincere.

This little kid ran right up to Ann and gave her a huge hug. Didn't know her at all, just hugged her

Another wonderful group of kids from Jamestown, Ghana 

She was quite anxious to get in the picture.

I really like the way this photo turned out. This guy had a lot of fun for this one.  

A pious Muslim fellow was anxious to show us the local mosque in the remote Ghanian village of Krachi. 

This kid had an enormous smile when he asked me to take his picture but suddenly became shy when I pulled out the camera. Stage fright, I guess.

The most impactful experience I've had thus far has been coming to the fishing village of Krachi, Ghana, a 7 hour drive into the underbrush from the Ghanian capital of Accra. While the small town has a quiet, placid feel to it, the truth is that many of the young boys we see fishing on the boats in the mornings and evenings are there against their will, kept in poor conditions and not allowed to go to school. The majority of these children come from small faraway villages. Their parents often pay money to send their kids away for an education only for these children to never receive such an opportunity. Instead, they're whisked away and forced into work that is both involuntary and dangerous.

Several of the rescued boys pose for a photo. 

Fortunately, a local group called Pacodep (and several larger, international ones) has begun rescuing many of these children (ranging from 6 to 17 year olds, and including both boys and girls) from their labors along Lake Volta. They are given adequate facilities, meals, and schooling at Village of Life Academy in Kete Krachi. We conducted several interviews at the school and were really impressed by the hope that these kids showed for the future, despite what they had already gone through.

Another group picture (with one girl looking on).

Posing for the camera!

They were very sorry to see us go. To be honest, the feeling was mutual.

If you want to help out Pacodep (and can stand a poor user interface) check out their website HERE. 

That's all for now. This trip has been absolutely fantastic so far. A little rough patch in the Ivory Coast just recently but, well, that story is going to have to be told once I leave the Ivory Coast. Stay tuned!