Hi everyone,I’m Alex, development director of Jakmel Ekspresyon. You’ll see me posting updates on our Facebook page, writing blog posts here and generally getting the word out about our organization. I don’t often write post here about my own travels or experiences, but I think that this story illustrates the magic of Jakmel Ekspresyon. In December I travelled to Jacmel with Sue, our Co-Director and my wife, Kristen, who led her second knitting workshop at Jakmel Ekspresyon. While in Jacmel as visitor you sometimes hear about other interesting people who are coming through town and you sometimes hope that the stars align and your paths cross in some way. We’d head about some “film maker guys” that were in town and our friends told us several times that we should meet them.
Sue, Kristen and I had gone to an outdoor dance party set up by a friend of a friend in Jacmel’s main square. This dance party was strictly for teens and kids. Loud bass, funky dancing, heavy beats and about 600 teenagers and their brothers and sisters jumping around and showing off their best dance moves. Our small group attracted other bemused adults and we were finally joined by a few guys we’d never met. As we introduced ourselves over the music, we realized that these were, in fact, Allan and Ian — the film maker guys.
Their organization, Film Maker for a Cause is a ”not for profit organization that provides free film production, photography, and media services to other NGOs.” Their goal is a noble one. They say,”We believe that through the arts of photography and filmmaking we can help tell the stories of those making a difference in our world. ”
What it boils down to is that Film Maker for A Cause travel the world making short promotional videos for organizations that need to promote themselves to the larger world. They charge nothing for their services and give the finished product to other not for profit organizations to do with as they please.
As we got to know Ian, Allan and Randall of Film Maker for A Cause I realized that their work is noble and very interesting. They came to Jakmel Ekspresyon for an evening and captured interviews with me, Kristen, Eder (a co-founder of Jakmel Ekspresyon), Aaron (our Administrator) and many others.
I am so grateful to Film Maker for A Cause for putting together one of their fantastic videos for us. I think that it perfectly captures what it is we’re trying to do with this organization. Take a look:
Let them know what you think of their videos on their Facebook page.
