Home after a month spent in Holland soaking up good, quality time with family and friends. I also had fun networking with some awesome folks doing inspiring stuff: unexpectedly attended Media For Heroes conference where I had the pleasure to meet both Hapee (Hivos) and Wendy (Oxfam Novib), enjoyed lunch with the team behind 1% Club, visited Press Now to discuss their potential Ushahidi implementation, and connected with Emer, one of the amazing founders of Butterflyworks, (our meeting turned into a caffeine-fueled totally non-linear marathon conversation about a bunch of different projects).
It's no accident that so many cool people and projects are based in Holland with its cosmopolitan culture of innovation and outward engagement. Plus the Ministry of Foreign Affairs provides significant financial support. I'm envious: most of my tax dollars spent overseas are going to hi-tech weaponry and soldiers.
Anyway, I'm back in beautiful (but insular) Blue Jay and wondering what now? Practically speaking, I need to find work. But more than anything I'd love to immerse myself in the three creative projects that I've got in the works: Producing Pamoja, Trading Faces and an initiative for crowdsourcing creative expression in developing countries. Hoping the universe will intervene...
Meanwhile, I'm a huge fan of the photo blog Africa Knows and I want to share this stunning image of a graffiti mural in Muthare, one of several slums in and around Nairobi.
Friday, May 21, 2010
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