Media for Malawi Children's Mission

Hi!

My name is Molly Choma and I'm a photographer based in Portland, Oregon. Over the last decade I have been blessed to follow my dream of photographing all across the world. While I have always viewed my pictures as telling other people's stories, for my next journey God has impressed upon me the importance of doing more than simple storytelling. It is my desire to be able to impact the lives of the orphans at Malawi Children's Mission in photographs.

To that end I am planning a trip to the Malawi Children's Mission (MCM) in an effort to raise awareness for their campaign. How can a photographer achieve such a task? A picture can be worth a thousand words, but the right photographs, when coupled with a mission's humanitarian efforts, can also have a dramatic impact financially. My hope is that my photographs can be used for marketing and fundraising campaigns for MCM so that they can raise funding to continue with their important and necessary work.

What kind of organization would you be helping? Malawi Children's Mission supports 150+ orphans coming from 3 very impoverished Muslim tribes in a rural area of southern Malawi. In addition, MCM has created the Young Women's Initiative (YWI) to address the needs of girls aged 13-19. YWI focuses on young women who are amongst the most vulnerable in this part of the world, and strives to empower these women to face the strict disadvantages of their every day life.

I'll be joining a team of teachers and health professionals from Penninsula Covenant Church to photograph the tireless and extremely beneficial work of the staff at MCM in an effort to provide them with materials for future fundraising and awareness campaigns and to tell the stories of the children and families they serve. I'll also be visiting the villages and homes where the children live to capturing the stories of their caretakers--usually grandparents and elder relatives.

Here is where you come in. In embarking on this journey I will need a team of partners, both in faith and financial backing, if I am able to achieve my goals of helping people from am impoverished corners of the globe. Here's how you can help:

Prayer Support
First and foremost, your prayers are all taken to heart. All prayers from my loving community are greatly appreciated. Specifically, I ask for guidance so that I can connect on a person to person level with the Malawians so that they allow me into their lives to document and tell their story. 

Financial Support
The financial responsibility of this trip is around $4,000. I have already paid a $500 deposit. If you are able to contribute I would be incredibly grateful. The money will support my insurance, vaccinations, lodging, food and transportation while I provide MCM and YWI with a set of fundraising resources and media content.

Technology Donations
MCM has several first-generation iPads the teachers are able to use, but there is still a need for tablets and other gadgets that can help children become more knowledgeable and fluent with technology. I have several old flip cams I'm bringing! If you have any ipads  you'd like to donate, please contact me directly.

Thank you for stopping by and partnering with me on this journey. Your support means the world to me, but to the orphans of these tribes it can lead them towards living much healthier, more fulfilling and enriching lives. I will do all within my power to honor your support as I photograph the lives of the children and young women of Malawi.


Thank you and God Bless,

Molly

malawichildrensmission.org
mollychoma.com