About this project
Doorways Project: Midwives in Mexico
I will be traveling to San Miguel de Allende and to the Copper Canyon in Mexico (see map) August 18-27, 2011 where I will be documenting the work of midwives in both Central San Miguel de Allende, where the CASA maternity hospital and midwifery program are located, and then deep in the remote Copper Canyon, where One Heart World-Wide is working to create a network of safety with the indigenous people of the region, the Tarahumara, among the poorest and most highly effected by maternal mortality in the world.
The goal of this project is to document midwives and mothers working together, in both the CASA maternity hospital and in the One Heart World-Wide Clinic in the Copper Canyon, to show both the need for life-saving skills and resources to reduce high rates of maternal and infant mortality, as well as the personal impact that these programs have already had on the health
and lives of rural mothers in Mexico. I also hope to follow at least least one
woman in each location for a partial day to show more personally a snapshot of what
life is like for a midwife and mother in those regions. Both organizations I will be
working with will benefit from more images documenting the beauty of the critical work they are doing, as well as personal stories that will connect supporters to the great needs of the women being served.
More than anything, though, the goal of the project is to show up, in response to my own calling to connect with and witness these people and programs, and to stay open to what images and stories ask to be seen and heard. In turn, I have no doubt that the relationships formed and the images and stories that will be captured will serve to open doorways for all of us.
The images and stories collected in this project will be included in both my greater Doorways Project (see below) as well as given with unlimited right of usage to CASA and OneHeart Worldwide to further promote their work. Selected images will also be printed for showing and publication.
I am raising the money to cover my travel expenses, and subsequent processing and printing of images. It will take three planes, two trains, and a bus or two to get me to where I need to go to document these stories. Accommodations include a shared home rental in San Miguel, a private homestay in Ceracahui, and a Quality Inn in Chihuahua. Nothing fancy. Any remaining money after travel expenses will go toward printing and submission fees for publication.
As with all Kickstarter campaigns, this project will not receive any funding until the entire goal is met and the project is fully backed. I ask you humbly and gratefully to support me in walking through this next doorway.
Thank you!
Doorways Project
The Doorways Project combines my passions for travel, beauty, and connection in a mission to share images and stories of women from around the world who are walking through doorways toward greater freedom in their lives. These doorways represent subtle or significant life decisions that demonstrate courage and compassion, and may defy reason and traditional choices, all leading to greater peace, happiness, and, ultimately, greater freedom.
What I have found to be true is that our doorways to freedom most always show up through our connections with one another. Through relationship. And through our willingness to see and be seen.
It is my hope that the images and stories shared through this project will inspire women who may not yet feel they have found their doorway (or who may have been too afraid to pass through) to begin to look for their own unique passages to freedom from the suffering and separation they experience.
Further, it is my vision that the Doorways Project will create new doorways through alliance with compassionate international humanitarian organizations and the populations they serve; namely, those women who may not have the strength or resources to open the door for themselves.
The photographs and stories captured through the Doorways Project are shared on the Doorways Traveler website and through other social media outlets and publications. Images and stories are always gifted freely, with unlimited right of usage, to the people and organizations featured.
It is my intent to have the first printed collection of Doorways Project photographs and stories available for publication in Fall 2013.
The Doorways Project is my way of paying it forward. Of offering myself, my wanderlust, and my talents. Of finding my own doorways and freedom in the connection and convergence of my story with the stories of women around the world. And of finding that we truly are all the same.
So far, the images and stories for this project have been collected from women in the rural villages of Rajasthan, India (working with Vatsalya) and Gulu, Uganda (with CAFWA).
FAQ
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Funding Successful
This project successfully raised its funding goal on August 16, 2011.
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A personal hand-written thank you note with an image from the project, acknowledgement on my website, my undying gratitude and a happy dance.
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A personal hand-written thank you note with an image from the project, acknowledgment on my website, a 5X7.5 archival fine art print of your choice from the project, my undying gratitude and, most likely, some happy tears.
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A personal hand-written thank you note with an image from the project, acknowledgment on my website, an 8x10.5 archival fine art print of your choice from the project, my undying gratitude, and, more than likely, a loud squeal to accompany a steady stream of happy tears.
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A personal hand-written thank you note with an image from the project, acknowledgment on my website, a 16x20 archival fine art print of your choice from the project, my undying gratitude, a guaranteed rip-roaring holler, and irrepressible joy.
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A personal hand-written thank you note with an image from the project, acknowledgment on my website, a16x20 print, a hardbound book featuring images from the project, my undying gratitude, an absolute epiphany of love and adoration, irrepressible joy and homemade chocolate chip cookies.
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A personal hand-written thank you note with an image from the project, acknowledgment on my website, a16x20 print, a hardbound book featuring images from the project, my undying gratitude, lighting bolts of pure ecstasy, irrepressible joy, homemade chocolate chip cookies AND a personal portrait session for yourself or for whomever you choose.
Project By
Connected as Lisa Field-Elliot (842 friends)
Lisa Field-Elliot is a photographer and writer seeking travel, beauty, and connection. Anytime. Anywhere. She shares her experiences, in words and images at doorwaystraveler.com with the hopes of, perhaps, inspiring you to look for your next doorway to freedom.
