Feel Good Friday - Mazingira Monkeys

Hi All,

It's Feel Good Friday #2 and, considering this is only the 2nd week I've started this, I'm pretty excited to be able to say I haven't missed a Friday yet!

Our subject today, The Mazingira Monkey Project in Arusha, Tanzania. It's the brainchild of a man named Ramadhani Juma who I met while traveling in 2007.

Hanging bags to dry.

Tired of the plastic bags that litter the streets, parks and rivers of Arusha, he decided to collect them, wash them out and then use them to stuff animals he makes and sells to the tourists who pass through town. He does this not only to earn money for paying rent, buying food and sending his kids to school but also because he knows the plastic bags are bad for the environment and the animals that eat them.

Making the animals.

Mazingira is the Swahili word for environment and the Monkey Project is run by Ramadhani and his wife. He makes daily treks into the downtown area to check on sales at the Jambo Cafe, then collect and wash plastic bags before bringing them home to dry in the sun. When he can, he asks the children living on the streets to help him pick up the bags and in return he buys them food. Once home, Ramadhani and his wife work together sewing and stuffing all the animals by hand.

He's been making monkeys, elephants and giraffes for the last 10 years and while I'd love to be able to say he's moved into a bigger home and is sending all his children to school,  he still struggles to make ends meet. And yet, he's still committed the project because of the positive impact it's having on the streets of Arusha.

You can learn more about him by watching a video I put together. Keep in mind it was done 5 years ago before I developed some of the mad skillz I have now so be gentle.

Ta da!

If you feel compelled to help Ramadhani out, do. Buy an animal, send him an email of support or send him some cash. He's not tax deductible, he's just a guy trying to make his city a better place.

Latest Video: Africa Takes Action!

I've been invited to speak to the Alameda Rotary Club on Tuesday, September 8th.

As part of my presentation tomorrow, I'll show two videos. The first documenting my Habitat trip to Madagascar:

The second, a new compilation titled "Africa Takes Action" highlights the work being done by a variety of small groups throughout Africa. Some of you will recognize the abbreviated stories of the Boomu Women's Group in Uganda, the flip flop group in Kenya and the Mazingira Monkey Man.

A new piece in the mix is the Bulugha Farm School in Cintsa, South Africa, which is supported in part by donations from visitors to Buccaneers Backpackers. The school has 193 students but only 3 classrooms and 3 toilets. Every week, the students present a concert and in return visitors are asked to provide a donation which supports a feeding scheme that enables the students to have two meals a day.

So check the videos out and wish me luck!

Mazingira Monkey Film Wins!

For those of you who don't already know... I'm happy to report that my documentary film The Mazingira Monkey Project won the online film festival sponsored by FilmClick!

Thanks to everyone who watched the film, voted for the film, bought a monkey or otherwise supported me and the monkey man.  We bask in the glory of first place.

Later we will toil in the field of editing the rest of the stories I captured that fabulous summer of 2007.  For now, I'm all about the basking.

Video Recap

Last week I went back to my former employer for a visit and a lunchtime video show.  It was great to see people again and wonderful to be able to share my adventures them.  Many people wanted to know where to learn more about the people we saw and where to see the movies again.

As promised... below is a recap of the movies we saw and links to the corresponding websites. The easiest way to find the movies themselves (and save me hours of uploading time) is by going to the Hey Miss K Channel on YouTube.  You can also become a subscriber so that you'll be notified any time I post something new and exciting!

The only video you won't find is the Habitat Madagascar video... right now that one is 19 minutes and too long to put on YouTube unless I cut it in two - which I have yet to do.

Boomu Women's Group

A group in Uganda that promotes community tourism (stay with locals, tour the neighborhood, learn how to cook local food) as a way to raise money for projects that benefit the entire community. 

  

UniquEco Designs

A business in Kenya focused on turning flip flops into art, it's a win-win-win.  Local people earn a sustainable income working here, used flip flops are taken off the beaches and helping clean up the environment, you and I can buy all sorts of groovy items in the name of making the world a better place.

Mazingira Monkey Project

A man in Tanzania who works with his wife to clean up their town.  He collects plastic bags from the streets and (after washing and disinfecting them) then uses them to stuff toy animals he and his wife sew at home.  Although he sometimes doesn't sell enough animals to support his family, he still buys food and clothes for homeless children who he asks to help him collect the bags.

If you're interested in ordering toys from him... your best bet (for those of you who work together) is to coordinate one big order, collect the cash and send it to him via Western Union. You can make your arrangements by emailing him and you can feel free to copy me on that email to help smooth it all out.

Habitat for Humanity - Global Village Program

Global Village is a 2 week volunteer program that brings people from around the world together to build houses with those in need.  The GV team (that's you) works with local people to build the house(s) and has the pleasure of experiencing a country and a culture in a much different way than passing through as a tourist.

Una and I lead trips every two years or so, and while there's nothing planned right now - I would encourage you to go to Habitat's site to see what current trips are available and/or let me know you want to be on our early bird notification list so you'll know when we'll be leading another trip.

Thanks for your interest in these projects and these people.  They rock and so do you.

Monkey Man Needs Your Vote!

Hi All,

The Mazingira Monkey Project has made it to the finals of an online film competition and I'd appreciate your vote! I want to make sure you keep your skills up in preparation for November.

In order to vote for the movie (and watch it again if you'd like) you'll need to register with Film Click. Once you're registered, you can vote for the Monkey Man every day from now until August 26th! Go ahead, vote more than once... you don't always get that opportunity. Plus you'll be supporting my filmmaking efforts and getting further recognition for the monkey man - I can sense you sleeping better at night already.

And while you're in a voting mood - here's another person who needs your help: Roz Savage. A friend of a friend, she's rowing across the Pacific Ocean - by herself - to raise awareness of environmental issues! She's been rowing for the last 84 days and should be in Hawaii in the next month.

You can support her by visiting the Members Project, an initiative by American Express that let's members vote for groups making a positive impact in the world. Winners will split a pot of 2.5 million dollars but votes need to be cast by tomorrow to cut the field down to the top 25! You don't have to have an American Express card, they'll let you register as a guest. Roz could use your vote now!

Thanks for taking the time to vote for the Monkey Man and Roz. In October, I'll tell you about a BBC sponsored competition the flip flop lady is in so you can vote for her too!

Further Adventures in Filmmaking

Hey All,

What in the world has been going on with me lately, you ask?  Good question.

I've been sharing the story of the monkey man with as many people as I can.  I've entered the movie in a competition at an online site called Film Click.  Right now it is a featured film on the front page and I would encourage you to go there and click to watch it.  You don't have to watch it again if you've seen it, but click the link and go get a coffee - it will up the number of views and that can only be helpful.

I've also posted the movie on Current TV as well as nominate the Mazingira Monkey Project for World Challenge 08 is a global competition aimed at finding projects or small businesses from around the world that have shown enterprise and innovation at a grass roots level.  There is potential for Juma to win a lot of money and expand his business.

Both the Film Click and World Challenge competitions I was invited to participate in by people who saw the movie at the Alice Film Festival.  So, getting myself out there has proven to be a good thing!

I remind myself of that as I'm forcing myself to go to a networking meeting/thingy at the Small Business Administration tonight.  While I'm working on getting a tv show - should I do something about Hey Miss K Productions?  I copyright my movies to this name, I put it on business cards I printed out but at this moment in time... it isn't technically a business.  Or is it?  Do you see what I'm dealing with?  But I try to make forward progress.

In other filmmaking adventures, my team from the Scary Cow group has finished filming our movie, Echo's Wonder.  I'm a bit sad the photo of me was shot in the bookstore shortly after 6:30 in the morning when I'm not at my peak, but you must admit, with the headphones and crazy microphone, I do look like quite the official location sound person.  The film screens June 1st at the Victoria Theater and I would encourage anyone who is around to come check it out. The sound is going to be fantastic.

Tonight's the Night We Make History!

(Styx flashback anyone?)

Hey All,

Tonight is the night of the Alice Film Festival where my film on The Mazingira Monkey Project is one of the 5 finalists in the drama/documentary category!

The event is sold out and on the verge of being a fire hazard because of the number of people attending.  The documentary film crew that will be there to film me (as the final bits of the Dream documentary) has to hang out in the lobby... it's that crowded.

I must say, today as I have been running errands, driving with the top down delivering film festival tickets and contemplating what to wear tonight I realized that, while this hasn't earned me any money yet, it sure beats workin' for "the man".

Regardless of the outcome tonight, this is a great opportunity for me to get more visibility for me, the monkey project and (hopefully through increased YouTube hits) for all the people I'm profiling.  I'm thrilled to be a part of it!  It very well may be "the best of times".

Please keep your fingers crossed and tune in soon for the results!

Miss K

PS - Because I know it's stuck in your head now and you want to hear it:

Styx "The Best of Times".

Mazingira Monkey Makes it to Film Festival!!

Hey All,

Exciting news!  The short documentary I did on the Mazingira Monkey Project has made the final cut for the Alice 3-minute Independent Film Festival!

The festival is next Friday, April 11th at Bimbo's 365 Club.  All the details can be found at the link above and tickets can be purchased at www.tickets.com.

Come cheer on the monkey man (and the filmmaker) as we make our debut on the big screen!

Miss K

P.S. Coming soon - the link to the Boomu Women's Group video, which I just posted today.