Hi! I'm David, and I'm moving to Kenya.
Why? Because Kenya is frickin' sweet! I know this because last November, through the generosity of contributors on Indiegogo, I got the chance to travel to Nairobi and visit a little nonprofit organization called Made in the Streets. While I was there, I made this:
Made in the Streets serves Kenyan street children, and the whole vision behind this film project was to give those kids a way to share their stories with a wider audience.
This is really important because in Nairobi over 60,000 children are living and working on the streets, and both the Kenyan government and westerners mistreat street children in different ways: while local authorities often overlook and abuse them, Americans often unintentionally dehumanize these children by viewing them as simple objects of pity in a one-way "helping" relationship. As a result, both groups miss out on the unique perspectives and stories these individuals have to offer.
Based on the reaction to the film, we know people want to hear those stories. "How Far I Want to Go" premiered at Reel Stories Film Festival back in January, where it won both the grand prize and the audience choice award. Since then, it was shortlisted for the student BAFTAs and won the social impact award at the Marina del Rey Film Festival. This month, we found out that the film has been made an official selection at the St. Louis International Film Festival, where it will screen in November and compete to qualify for Oscar eligibility.
Way back when I was still shooting this project last November, I knew I wanted to come back. Now that I've graduated from college, I have the opportunity to do so. I'm going to live at Made in the Streets for a period of six months and pump out tons of video content about their work and mission. In my spare time, I plan to make my first feature length documentary and a few more short films, because why not?
More about Method
So this is just about the coolest thing ever. I get to spend six months honing my skills in cinematography, editing, sound design, and color, all while supporting the work of an organization I believe in. Made in the Streets has never had a dedicated filmmaker at their service, so they're handing me an open canvas on which I can create the best content I can dream up. Consequently, I've spent a lot of time thinking about my approach, and while I know this thought process will continue to develop and change once I arrive in Kenya, I've already arrived at several goals for my time at MITS. Here are just a few:
First and foremost, I want to be able to conduct interviews in Swahili. I think it's extremely important for interviewees to be able to communicate effortlessly, and since many students at MITS only learn to speak English after they come to the boarding school, I expect to spend a lot of time studying Swahili while in Kenya.
Additionally, I want to get the kids involved with the filmmaking process as much as I can. We had frequent brainstorming sessions while making "How Far I Want to Go," and Eddie got so into it that he actually became the official sound guy for the film. These kids have a ton of creative energy, and I would love to let them loose with a camera and see what happens.
As much as I can, I also hope to become a part of the community in Kamulu, the village where MITS has it boarding school. While I know this might be difficult to attain, I hope that by the time I leave Kenya, the people I lived with won't just see me as a mzungu, or foreigner, but also as a friend and neighbor.
![]()
Why I Need Your Help
As cool as my job with Made in the Streets is, it has one tiny drawback—it doesn't pay anything. Also, my shiny new degree means that I can no longer borrow film gear from my university, so I need to invest in equipment before I leave. For a recent college graduate who also has to deal with impending student loan payments, those two factors could become problematic.
In order to finance this venture, I'm trying to raise $3,000. This will go toward the cost of equipment, international health insurance, six months worth of food, etc. If you're interested in a breakdown of expenses, please feel free to message me.
![]()
Our Impact
"Sonder" - n. The realization that each random passerby lives a life as vivid and complex as your own—populated with their own ambitions, friends, routines, worries and inherited craziness—a story that continues invisibly around you like an anthill sprawling deep underground, with elaborate passageways to thousands of other lives that you’ll never know existed, in which you might appear only once.
I believe that sonder is good medicine for humanity, and that documentaries are one of the most effective means of achieving it. The processing of filmmaking gives me a way to step into another person's world and see life from their perspective. I almost always walk away from that experience with greater love and empathy for the other, and I think film's highest calling is to share that with the viewer. Here are a few other projects where I've tried to do this.
Behind the Faces
This short documentary explores the widespread experience of loneliness among students at Pepperdine University.
The Littlest Phoenix
A video for a spoken word poem, "The Littlest Phoenix" tells a story about "freedom and the beauty which emerged from pain."
Shifts in the Path
In this short documentary a graduating senior reflects on her on her journey, sharing her belief that the unexpected turns along her path have made it all the more meaningful.
Spread the Word!
I know that contributing funds isn't an option for everybody, but if you believe in the project and want to help make it happen, spread the word! Post on Facebook, show your friends, tell your Grandma—every little bit helps!
![]()
Photography by Safeena Padder
