The story of the world’s newest country, South Sudan, in the words and photos of its people, the displaced refugees returning home.
For more than a quarter of a century, a civil war wreaked havoc in Africa’s largest country, Sudan. Weary, wounded and lacking resources, the two feuding sides finally reached an agreement.
On July 09, 2011, South Sudan seceded from the North and became the world’s newest nation. On that day, it also became one of the world’s poorest nations. The 35-year long dispute left the newly independent Southerners with their freedom, but little else.
The effects of the war were devastating: nearly 2 million lives were lost, 4.5 million people were displaced and more than 500,000 refugees fled to neighboring countries.
With extreme poverty looming, continued hostile border disputes and an overwhelming lack of infrastructure, South Sudan’s formal independence was only the new nation’s first step toward true freedom.
A combination of hope, despair and uncertainty shape the future outlook for the South Sudanese. Their story is still unfolding and must be told - in their own words..
Book Concepts:
The Goal: In May, our team will travel to South Sudan to capture the stories of those most closely affected.
Their words, photos and drawings will be combined in a book, committing to paper their historical journey. They will tell the tale of South Sudan in their voice, for the international community to hear.
Statistics will become faces. Distances will close. Their future will become a shared responsibility.
The Need: This is where you come in. Help us raise $15,000 to cover our production costs, and make this book a reality. Help us tell their story.
Where will the money from the book go?
All proceeds from the photo book will go toward Life In Abundance International's (LIA) initiatives to serve the South Sudanese.
LIA, a community development organization, has made South Sudan a primary focus. It understands the importance of cultivating the community leaders throughout this country, in order to transform it from within and provide a better future for the people who call it home. Its integrated approach to community development includes community health, education, economic empowerment and social action initiatives.
LIA currently serves in three communities within South Sudan and plans to significantly multiply its initiatives throughout the country.
Who are the creative forces behind the making of the
book?
Justin Narducci, Life In Abundance Director of Partnerships and Resources
For more than five years,
Justin has seen first-hand the burdens that the Southern Sudanese bear. He oversees operations and finances for Life In Abundance, ensuring that the organization
always stays true to its mission. He is one of the visionaries behind the
project – striving for a way to tangibly display the beauty, dignity and
journeys of the Sudanese. LifeInAbundance.org
Justin Ahrens, LIA Board Member and
Rule29 Principal/Creative Director
Justin is equally passionate
about seeing the world differently. Justin served as the creative director for
LIA’s documentaries, This is My Normal and
This Is My Home, and will once again
be the creative magic behind the book. Rule29.com
Brain McDonald, Wonderkind Studios
Founder
Brian has the rare talent of
capturing someone’s story in just a simple expression or gesture. He’ll
serve as the principal photographer on this book, as he has often done for LIA
in the past. Wonderkindstudios.com
Sources:
[1] “Sudan Profile.”
BBC News. N.o. 22 02 2012.
[2] “South Sudan facing most violent year since end of
civil war.” Oxfam. 24 May. 2011.
[3] “Sudan: durable solutions elusive as southern IDPs
return and Darfur remains tense.” Internal Displacement Monitoring Centre. Web.
23 Dec. 2012.
FAQ
Have a question? If the info above doesn't help, you can ask the project creator directly.
15
Backers
$566
pledged of $15,000 goal
0
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Funding Unsuccessful This project reached the deadline without achieving its funding goal on July 11, 2012.
Funding period
May 25, 2012 -
Jul 11, 2012
(47 days)
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Pledge $10 or more
3 backers
A print with one of our favorite photos captured in South Sudan during the making of the book.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $25 or more
5 backers
An e-copy of the book, In Their Own Words.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $50 or more
1 backer
An e-copy of the book, In Their Own Words, plus a collection of six (6) prints captured during the making of the book.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $100 or more
3 backers
A hardcover copy of the book, In Their Own Words, delivered one week before general release to the public, plus a collection of twelve (12) prints captured during the making of the book.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $250 or more
0 backers
A hardcover copy of the the book, In Their Own Words, with your name engraved in the cover, and your name or company name mentioned in the “Thank You” section of the book. Additionally, a collection of twelve (12) prints captured during the making of the book.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $500 or more
0 backers
Two hardcover copies of the book, In Their Own Words, with your name engraved in the cover, and your name or company name mentioned in the “Thank You” section of the book. Additionally, you will receive one large, matted photograph (1 of 5 choices) captured during the making of the book and a 12-month calendar with our favorite photos captured during the making of the book.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $750 or more
0 backers Limited (20 of 20 left)
All of the above AND you may hand select a collection of twelve (12) prints captured during the making of the book (from a list of pre-approved photos).
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $1,000 or more
0 backers Limited (15 of 15 left)
All of the above AND a Life In Abundance swag bag.
Estimated delivery: Dec 2012Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (3 of 3 left)
For this commitment, you will receive a photo session in Chicago with the principal contributing photographer in the book, In Their Own Words, as well as an LIA swag bag, three large matted photographs (5 photos to choose from) and a set of 24 postcards showcasing images captured during the making of the book. You will also receive a 12-month calendar with 12 photos of your selection and a hardcover copy of the book with your name engraved in the cover and your name or company mentioned in the “Thank You” section of the book (book shipped one week before the general public release).
Estimated delivery: Jun 2013
