If you are interested in an alternative way to give a gift towards Jess and me for our wedding, check out the link Acholi Crossroads (to the left). One of our close friends and groomsman, Michael Friberg, filmed a documentary in Africa. We would love to support him. Here is a blurb he wrote about the project:
"Northern Uganda has been home to one of the largest humanitarian crises in the world. In the last 20 years, nearly two million people have been driven from their homes into displacement camps. On top of this, an estimated 40,000 children were abducted to be used as child soldiers or sex slaves in this senseless conflict. Despite all of these dismal numbers, there is hope springing forth in the region. As the conflict draws to a close, the Acholi people are beginning to travel home from these displacement camps to try to rebuild their lives.
In June of 2008, I beg, borrowed and stole my way back to Uganda to make a documentary about the redemption happening in the region. The film, tentatively titled “Acholi Crossroads”, documents two main characters as they try to move past the conflict and rebuild their lives. One of them is a farmer named Paul who is in the process of resettling back to his original village to try to farm. The other, Denis Omoya, is a former child soldier who is now a schoolteacher. He also started a football (soccer) program for war-affected youth to help them take their minds off the trauma they have experienced. I truly believe we captured some amazing things on film in Uganda over the six weeks we were filming and I want nothing more than to see it finished.
While we solicited a lot of support and donations before we left for the trip, we were still forced to borrow about 12,000 dollars in order to get the filming done. The biggest thing impeding me from getting the film done right now is unfortunately the lack of funding we have received. I am currently making student loan payments on that debt and it is making it nearly impossible to try to find an editor to get the film finished. Our ultimate goal with the film is to use it to partner with some non-profit organizations to help the Acholi people resettle back to their villages. They face enormous hurdles if they are going to be successful in rebuilding their beautiful culture."
In June of 2008, I beg, borrowed and stole my way back to Uganda to make a documentary about the redemption happening in the region. The film, tentatively titled “Acholi Crossroads”, documents two main characters as they try to move past the conflict and rebuild their lives. One of them is a farmer named Paul who is in the process of resettling back to his original village to try to farm. The other, Denis Omoya, is a former child soldier who is now a schoolteacher. He also started a football (soccer) program for war-affected youth to help them take their minds off the trauma they have experienced. I truly believe we captured some amazing things on film in Uganda over the six weeks we were filming and I want nothing more than to see it finished.
While we solicited a lot of support and donations before we left for the trip, we were still forced to borrow about 12,000 dollars in order to get the filming done. The biggest thing impeding me from getting the film done right now is unfortunately the lack of funding we have received. I am currently making student loan payments on that debt and it is making it nearly impossible to try to find an editor to get the film finished. Our ultimate goal with the film is to use it to partner with some non-profit organizations to help the Acholi people resettle back to their villages. They face enormous hurdles if they are going to be successful in rebuilding their beautiful culture."
Please consider supporting Mike in his call to share this story. If you would like to donate to this cause, either write a check out to Michael Friberg and mail it to us at 2205 Emerson Avenue Salt Lake City, Utah 84108. Or check out the link below to give online!
Thanks so much
-Doug and Jess
