Phil has already embarked on another trip! He is documenting the work of Foundation for Women (FFW) in Liberia, as well as, a women’s leadership summit that they are hosting. FFW is an organization that strives to continually support and encourage impoverished women, both globally and locally, by funding and creating microcredit programs. A longtime supporter of Phil and his work, Kevin Castner is traveling with him and reporting back to us from the field.
Today was my first full day in Africa, hence also Liberia. We drive thru the humid pollution to FFW headquarters, a concrete building just off the road. Inside we go to a small conference room and begin to introduce ourselves. Along with Deborah Lindholm, the founder of FFW, we meet the brain trust of the organization which includes Emily Peal the CEO, her new COO Jade Martin and new IT/Finance Chief Alfred Baker. These are perhaps lofty titles, but Jade and Alfred explain their roles and challenges very articulately; including how their air conditioners were stolen recently and that they only have enough money to have the generator on for a few hours every day, usually from 11am to 4pm.
Kevin while documenting the programs of FFW in Liberia
So, a couple of asides. There is no power grid in Liberia. They used to generate enough hydroelectric power for themselves with leftover to export. But the dams were blown up. Now, all power comes from individual generators. Individual generators run on oil. Oil is expensive. Businesses run generators during the day, homes run them at night. If your generator isn’t on you don’t have electricity, you don’t have internet, you can’t charge your phones, and you don’t have light. Period.
Back in the conference room, we meet the team of young, world hopping photo documentarians who, while working on their own project, will also be photographing Phil as he goes about his work. Sebastian Lindstrom (sound and producer) is Swedish, Alicia Sully (filmmaker) from America, and Philippa Young (writer) are all in their mid-twenties and have co-founded a foundation called What Took You So Long (WTYSL). The vision of WTYSL is to build film as a medium for social change and something every social business utilizes effectively to send their message to the watching world.
When all the intros are complete we discuss the timing of what we want to have happen. Phil wants to meet the women who will be coming to here to Monrovia for a week of leadership training; ideally to go out to one or two villages and come in with them. The logistics, given the quality of the roads, is daunting, but we put a plan in place.
Next we will be visiting some of the women that of the Foundation for Women supports with the funds and tools for successful business endeavors allowing them to support their families and help their local communities grow.
Danielle
Hi Kevin, Hi Phil,
So glad to see a post and get an update of your activities! Looking forward to reading more soon.
Greetings from dreary Seattle!
John Mc Nally
Hi, Kevin and Phil
Nice to read about your exploits and to see the images. Enjoyed your company and wish you well.
John the map maker
Anna Maria
It´s very interesting to see the work you all are doing.
Janeen Castner
Kevin, my same parents brother — U are the only one to be able to have this distinctive title.
So glad to be privileged of this time of sharing/blogging.
Very interesting reading. And, seeing what you’ve been supporting — must have been a very unique “look see” experience.// The Lord’s encouragement blessings!
Janeen
Kevin (the blogger), you seem to have a “fan club”. Didn’t know U were so famous. // What you also expressed showed the important use of every dollar spent — the generators, conservation of electricity, etc. And the leaders, they knew what they needed to do & with intent to do it. And for all of us readers — the above are lessons to appreciate during those time of “ease”.
I’m beginnining to use a common phrase — being a thread in a situation or in a life of another. Your blogging gave us the words to understand what we were reading. The result was your providing us chapters in an interesting book as it was hot of the press being written. You were an important thread for later memory and recollections. Also, you gave us an insight of what was transpiring in the Liberian land. And even for yourself, this will provide a unique memory avenue of life — something you might not have encountered in your regular routine of it.
Janeen
Kevin (the blogger), you seem to have a “fan club”. Didn’t know U were so famous. // What you expressed showed the important use of every dollar spent — the generators, conservation of electricity, etc. And the leaders, they knew what they needed to do and with intent to do it. And for all of us readers — the above are lessons to appreciate during those time of “ease”.
I’m beginnining to use a common phrase — being a thread in a situation or in a life of another. Your blogging gave us the words to understand what we were reading. U will be memory of importance in the lives of ones for which you blogged.
Lance King
With so much going on in the world we often stay unaware of situations like this, and sadly there are so many. Thanks for sharing this.
Suzanne Barton
Kevin, you never cease to amaze. What an outstanding opportunity. Take care of yourself. Love you.