Bonjour from rural C.A.R! This is our second trip here, and it feels incredible to be back.
Three years ago when we first arrived, this country was in collective state of crisis. Within hours of being on the ground, we realized that despite having seen a lot of poverty across the world, this was the next level of suffering. For a country that has enormous natural resources, C.A.R has been one of Africa’s poorest for decades. And that was before the war broke out. Six years of conflict took a bad situation and turned it unbearable for most of the population. Hundreds of thousands of people who used to survive through farming and local small business were displaced as armed militias raped, pillaged and burned their way across the countryside. A dysfunctional and weak central government could do nothing to intervene. The UN and other peacekeeping forces were outnumbered and largely ineffective.
How did we end up in such a place? We’ve wondered that ourselves a few times! The short answer is… Carter. An ordinary guy from Iowa - a paint salesman- set in motion what would become a life-saving mission for hundreds of children in one of the poorest places on earth. And we came to tell his story.
You can find our first film with Carter’s story and Jonathan’s House for Orphans in our portfolio. But we find ourselves back here because three years later a lot has changed! Because of the hard work of African leaders - house mothers, counselors, farmers, and more - the community here in this little corner of C.A.R is starting to recover. There’s a long way to go, but momentum is in the right direction again…
While we are here, we’ll be telling the story of a re-opened medical clinic and maternity ward. The only one of it’s kind within a hundred miles or more. We will peak in on a thriving school and all-important lunch program. And we’ll follow the life of another “ordinary guy” doing extraordinary things - Samuel - the local director of Jonathan’s House.
HERE-is-WHY exists to bridge the divides we find ourselves suffering from geography, beliefs, socio-economics, race and more. We feel called to go to the hidden and difficult corners of our beautiful planet to find stories that need to be told. And we are privileged to learn so much from those who tell their stories to us. Stay tuned as we continue to release photos and updates on our journey via social media in the coming months. You can follow us on Instagram @hereiswhy or Facebook @hereiswhyfilms