2014 Starts With New Campaign

The start of the new year sees renewed focus on putting Images of HOPE on the map properly. This year we are going to prepare a touring photographic exhibition and an accompanying large format coffee table photo book to go with it. Also, a selection of the images will be available to purchase in gallery quality prints, providing funding opportunity for next assignments.

Read more about it on our dedicated website at www.ImagesOfHOPE.info .

Boardroom images

HOPE worldwide HQ has moved to new office in Wayne, Pennsylvania. Here are a some of my images in huge prints on their boardroom wall.

Camp HOPE, Philadelphia

Go West, Young MEN

Off to Philadelphia and the HOPE Youth Core Camp Miracles in a few days time. Exciting to be back working and playing with the kids in Philly after three years!

New Year, New Aspirations

Year 2010 is upon us, and with it comes new aspirations. Not wanting to rush ahead too much, a look back over the last three years might be in place!

It all started in the beginning of 2007, when I had a change to go and document (photograph) the work of HOPE worldwide in India. What a trip it were to be! 2 weeks, 6000 miles and and 7000 images later, I was starting to realise it was the dawn of a new era (pardon the pun, more on that a little later). I was impacted by the needs, moved by the hearts of the people and hooked beyond return to be working with and for the people less fortunate than us, around the world.















2007 saw another another book published on Afghanistan, and just before Christmas a trip to the Philippines and Cambodia. Wonderful people, lot of hurt and especially in Cambodia untold national trauma. Took me two weeks to get over it enough to start working on the images (proved to be my best loved book of them all!)

2008 a trip cross the southern and eastern US revealed a country with big needs, not to mention the devastation that Hurricane Katrina left in New Orleans. The Lower 9th Ward completely obliterated, wiped off the Earth. Half a million people never came back to their homes.

Out of Africa, it is impossible to describe this most wonderful of continents. A week touring Cote d'Ivoire was as usual a mixed bag of misery and suffering, wonderful people, great work, and the of riot during a national strike.. what an initiation to the African way of life.

To be followed later by a forced invitation to Nigeria. "Not going" was not an option, and I have found myself and my opinions being changed once again. Do not focus on the few bad apples.. the people are lovely, and there is a lot of work to do! The first nigerian book was followed by another, this time for the Mayflower Foundation. We ended up working with and for the local Lagos State government, and have been there ever since.

2009 was mostly spent working on all things Nigerian. We set up a new international development consultancy NEW ERA Partners. Current work spans from healthcare and education to waste management, power generation and creating a lot of new employment opportunities..

So, looking forward to an exiting new year (in Africa).

Mikko

Another year goes by..

Since the last Global Summit in may 2008, work (and life) have taken me frequently to Nigeria, my least favourite of destinations. Or it used to be.

Nigeria is a big country, full of wonderful, friendly and very hospitable people. Have made many friends over my several trips, to a degree that visiting them on the next trip is difficult due to lack of free evenings :)

Will be posting much more images from Nigeria shortly, just waiting to get my second Nigeria book out of print on Monday

Next stop Nairobi

well, should have been..

Instead we opted to the largest, wealthiest and busiest country in Africa, and a big one for HOPE worldwide too - namely Nigeria.

The Global Summit, Washington DC

My first trip to HOPE worldwide's annual conference, and the second time in the US in three months time!

Hectic preparations to get the books finished (and all came together at the last minute, as always). Great reception, everyone just loved the images and wanted to have the books.. alas the printing costs are still prohibitive of large scale distribution. Will be working on that and also looking for possible sponsors from the next ventures.

Finally, the books are out

INDIA

AFGHANISTAN

PHILIPPINES

CAMBODIA

UNITED STATES

CODE D'IVOIRE

 

Now counting six books in total, ready for the Global Summit in Washington and to start their duty of spreading the word.

My last day in Code d'Ivoire

What a way to end my fabulous trip. Our driver Fred takes me to the village of Bapu where his wife comes from.

We drive two hours west and finally arrive at the village to be greeted by the Chief and the uncles. After some African hospitality we spend a lovely afternoon with them. Next time I'll spend a day or two with the fishermen, doing what they do best - go fishing :)

Kids playing and posing in Locodrojo

Just as any where else in the world!

Meet baby Esther at Locodrojo

Orphaned baby Esther weighed only 4 kilos at one year when she was brought to the nutrion programme run by HOPE worldwide in the local community of Locodrojo, Abidjan.

Girls school at Abobo

Raising the roof at Church Service

One of the highlights of my travels are visits to local churches and congregations around the world. It is just plain amazing how people having the same faith in one God do feel like your extended family. Warm welcome is always guaranteed, and if ever I needed anything somebody would be there to help :)