Africa Wedding or Something Else....

[MyKey]

For more than 6 months now, we had known that we would be getting on a plane and flying to East Africa to shoot a wonderful wedding with an amazing couple. Our trip will take us to Kenya where we will be shooting the traditional Engagement ceremony on July 24th. A couple of days later, we will be flying or driving into Entebbe, Uganda in preparation for the wedding ceremony which is scheduled to take place on July 28th. On July 29th, TriCoast will be heading over to Amsterdam for another photography event and finally heading home back to the United States early August.

TriCoast and the friends that surround us are all strong believers that to be successful in life you need to do more than just go through the motions, you need to LIVE LIFE and absorb each and every second of this amazing gift. Due to this thought process TriCoast has for quite sometime wanted an opportunity to be able to impact the lives of the less fortunate people of the world. From North America to South America to Africa and all places in between many less fortunate people who are amazing in their own right just need a little help, a little push to keep their head up in times of hardship. As a lot of photographers would agree, going to Africa under these circumstances is the ultimate dream...the opportunity to create images that are artistically rich because of the different environment and yet some would talk about it with pride and hopefully gain the envy of their peers.

Think about these numbers:
Orphans in Kenya due to AIDS - 1,100,000
Orphans in Uganda due to AIDS - 1,100,000
Orphans in Nigeria due to AIDS - 930,000
An estimated 350 million to 500 million clinical malaria cases and more than one million malaria deaths occur each year, the vast majority of which are in sub-Saharan Africa. More than 80% of malaria deaths occur in Sub-Saharan Africa and the large majority of these are in children younger than five years of age.

Worldwide stats for children
28 Million children die from easy curable diseases each year
17 million children die from malnutrition and starvation each year
1/3 of the world population is malnourished
20% of the world has no access to safe water at all
40% have no sanitation
10 million children are involved in the sex industry
100 million children are on the streets
200 million child labourers
1.4 million children under the age of 15 are living with HIV

So, how could TriCoast be excited about going Africa to make money or better our careers, our art, our passions in life, when so many children and even adults are dying from Malaria. A disease that can be prevented by a little as a $1.00 insecticides or insecticide sprayed mosquito nets? TriCoast has always wanted an opportunity to be able to give back to Africa and be a difference in the life of a single child. So, when a new friend, who is fast becoming a great friend gave TriCoast an open door to make a difference we felt we needed to do more than just photograph a wedding.

While overseas in Africa we will be using our connections to start a foundation to better the lives of children and adults through photography. Knowing how a camera has changed our lives for the better, just the freedom of creating something that is YOURS can give back hope, faith and most importantly DREAMS to individuals which are in need. We truly believe in our hearts that we can all help. It does not matter where these children are based, be it in the United States or other countries, we believe we can slowly start to make a difference in the lives of the less fortunate.

There is only one race, the Human Race, helping others in this world is taking that step above just living life, just going through the motions, it is what makes you difference, what gives us the inspiration to continue to photograph, continue to laugh and continue to dream. By this time next year we hope to have many new and wonderful things happening in Africa for the children's future but also for everyone involved.

Please check back on our BLOG often starting on the 23rd of this month for continued video entiries, photos and of course laughter, stupid jokes and everything else which you have come to know from TriCoast...


Thanks for reading this post :)

[Joe_Lorenzini]

Lemme know when your Foundation is ready for donations Mike. I'm a big believer in what you're doing.

_/oe

[Slight Clutter]

A forum post of equal or greater merit than your always extraordinary images. To echo Joe (I think), let us know when your foundation is ready for donations. I totally support your global sensibility and mission. I think that Depeche Mode said it best... "People are people..."

If you need assistance...

[cnoise]

Not to sound crass, but is there a foundation that you can partner with that is already there.

[MyKey]

Originally Posted by cnoise

Not to sound crass, but is there a foundation that you can partner with that is already there.

No not at all on sounding crass!

Our client is VERY high up in the Uganda government and having connections of this sort allows many things to happen on the postive side of things. What we want to do, what we feel is needed in these areas there simply is not a foundation of its kind ANYWHERE in Africa much less in the country. So to answer your question no there is not a foundation which we can partner with that is already out there to assist us without wanting money for themselves and not for the individuals that truly need it.

[pippin]

mike you never cease to amaze me.

[jagphoto]

Mike, you guys are simply amazing! My heart has always been, and will forever be for children. I cannot wait to start donating to the foundation!

My church is currently in the process of building an orphanage right beside the Nile River, and I hope to someday volunteer there. The only thing holding me back right now is my small children, but once they are grown, mommy is taking a trip!!

God Bless you and I will pray for you!!

[cnoise]

Is geek corps an option? I went(being a graphic designer) and set up networks and such and it was the greatest experience of my life.

[Breezy]

what an awesome opportunity. And yes please let us know when the foundation is up :D

[frameworthy]

Mike, first off, let me say how awesome this is and my wife and I will be praying for you and your safety, as well as any planning that may take place while you are there.

I have always had a heart for Africa, and my wife and I are planning a trip next summer; this will be her second trip. Our home church in McAllen has been working in Kenya for the last few years, and is in the process of either partnering with an existing orphanage or opening their own.

I'm not sure how many people know who Jeremy Cowart (http://www.jeremycowart.com) is, but he's an amazing photographer based out of Nashville, who I have been following (probably stalking) online for the last year or so. He partnered with a magazine and a couple of non-profit organizations and went to Africa a couple of years ago to photograph images for a book (Hope in the Dark). Ya'll should check him out and any information on his website. Check out these links also:
https://www.africanleadership.org/mochaclub/welcome
http://www.bloodwatermission.com/
http://www.myspace.com/jeremycowart

Lisa, just real quick story. I'm not sure how young your kids are, but when my wife went last summer, they took seven kids under the age of six with their group (youngest was two). For the majority of children in the orphanage, these were the first white children they had ever seen. They couldn't fathom that there were white people THEIR age. But at the same time, my mother-in-law always wanted to go, and didn't start going until our church (which she is on staff at) started going. All of her kids basically grown (youngest was 12). She has now been four times in the last three years and will continue for years to come.

Mike, all this to say: awesome. I want more information than you provided here on your plans. Excellent that you do see this as more than a great photog trip, I'm sure that's hard. Once again, we will be praying for you.

[jagphoto]

Originally Posted by frameworthy

Lisa, just real quick story. I'm not sure how young your kids are, but when my wife went last summer, they took seven kids under the age of six with their group (youngest was two). For the majority of children in the orphanage, these were the first white children they had ever seen. They couldn't fathom that there were white people THEIR age. But at the same time, my mother-in-law always wanted to go, and didn't start going until our church (which she is on staff at) started going. All of her kids basically grown (youngest was 12). She has now been four times in the last three years and will continue for years to come.

Thank you so much for this story! I will have to look into this as soon as the orphanage is built. By that time my youngest will be at least 3 or 4. It is definitely something I would LOVE to do with them if possible!!