A long time ago now I felt compelled to make a change from working in the UK photo-editorial world and make use of my skills to tell stories that I hope will make a positive difference in people’s lives. I do that with SIM.
I mainly shoot videos, photos and write stories for SIM in East Africa. SIM is a Christian not-for-profit based all over the world. It’s heartbeat is for people to be reached with the gospel and that looks different in every context.
SIM has life-changing projects in all key development areas; education, healthcare, agriculture and so on. Sometimes ministries are outright evangelism.
It is my privilege as a story teller to serve these guys doing the work. I visit the people and active projects, see lives being changed, and work out how to tell these stories.
SIM folks are servant-hearted, giving up the familiarity of their home context to become immersed in foreign cultures, all with the heart to serve the people where they go.
As an organisation, SIM works alongside the existing local church. It doesn’t move from country to country, sticking its flag in the ground. I massively respect that. As such, my job as a communicator is quite hard. Banging the drum for an organisation that has in the past consciously chosen not to bang its own drum.
But these are stories that need to be told.
Appolinarie, a mother of two and Rwandan refugee based in Nairobi, meditates in the smoke of burning paper - paper that had her traumas and unforgiveness listed. It’s a key time of personal freedom found during the trauma healing course run by SIM in Nairobi.
Joseph, a former child soldier from South Sudan who now teaches the bible in refugee camps in Kenya.
Appolinarie, a refugee in Kenya from Ruanda who leads trauma healing workshops for French-speaking refugees in Nairobi, having received the same help herself.
Families affected by disability in Kenya, who have received the love, personal healing and support needed to have a chance of moving on in life.
The schools in South Sudan conflict zones that keep getting destroyed, but pick themselves back up again. And again. And again.
The. Stories. Go. On. And. On.
These are the stories that I have been able to share from East Africa. And what of sharing them? It is my firm conviction that the stories - be it image or text - should challenge perceptions and compel people to act.
It is my greatest satisfaction to know that a story I have created could call the global church into action; to pray, to advocate, to join, to give financially.
That is what SIM Stories is. And that is what motivates me.
So please, check existing stories and if one affects you, please act.