What a difference a goat or two can make! That’s the story told in the above video I produced for ChildFund New Zealand, which promotes the annual ChildFund Gifts That Grow catalog. Who knew a goat had the power to beat malnutrition, send a child to school, even build a new house? Below, yours truly gives a behind the scenes look at filming in rural Zambia and working with families that have received these amazing gifts.
Maybe you’re feeling especially generous after watching this? Whether you’re in New Zealand, the US, France, Australia or elsewhere, ChildFund is likely working in your country so you can make a tax-deductible gift to someone like Perina this season.
Dear Jake Lyell,
Is it hard to be in an environment where people are suffering with little amounts of clean water and good food?
From,
Olivia
If you had to choose one thing that was most important,(Poor agricultural farming and practices, lacking water, poor equality health care, or poor equality education)which one would be the most important?
What is your favorite part of being a photograph?
I am in Mrs. Winn’s class and I have a question I want to ask. Do you think in the next five years Africa will get any better?
~ Macy Thompson
Dear Jake,
Could you be in Elementary School no matter how old you are?
I loved the presentation today at Tuckahoe Elementary. I am in Mrs.Winn’s fifth grade class. How does it feel when you leave a country?
Why doesn’t poverty affect a lot of people in the USA?
Hi Jake! I was at your presentation at TES today. I have a question for you! I know you’ve been to a lot of places! What place have you been to that you found the most interesting or amazing?
Thanks,
Katharine
I was in your lesson Tuckahoe elementary school i thought it was very cool how you take such amazing pictures in places. I have a question for you when you go places where do u get food and shelter?
How long did it take you to learn a different language?
Jake, what was the main hardship that you had to over come and how did you over come it? Jake, I enjoyed you visiting our school today. Thank you.
Hi students of Tuckahoe Elementary.
Thanks so much for listening so attentively during the presentation. I’m so glad that you’re interested in learning about the difficulties that children go through in other parts of the world. Here are some answers to some of your questions:
1. It is hard to be in an environment where there are many who are suffering. Sometimes it’s overwhelming. But I’d rather be there doing something about it then to ignore the problem.
2. If I could choose only one problem to tackle in the developing world, it would be the water issue. Water is the most basic resource for life and everyone needs it.
3. My favorite part of being a photographer is seeing new cultures and countries.
4. Africa is getting better economically every year, slowly.
5. No matter what your age is, you can attend public school in many countries in Africa. I know of one man in Kenya who is 70 years old and still in elementary school. He began to attend after public schools became free for students.
6. The poverty in the US is not as wide-spread or deep because the US has good government, excellent natural resources and climate, a better health care and education system, and better opportunities for all.
7. A country that I’ve been to that I’d like to return to spend more time in is Armenia.
8. Sometimes the hotels in the areas that I travel to aren’t 5 star.
But they’re good enough.
9. It took me one year to learn Swahili.
10. There are a lot of people working as videographers and photographers out there. A big challenge has been to work hard get my work known.
Thanks again guys!
jake
Is it hard to adapt to a dry place like Africa?
Your presentation was sick at our school Tuckahoe Elementary School I hope you can come again
Jake,
Thanks for coming to Tuckahoe! I really enjoyed your presentation. It really gave a visual of how needy Africa is. Moreover, great goat video! Maybe I’ll be able to raise some money to buy one for somebody.
Jake,
Thank you for coming to Tuckahoe and telling us about the people in Africa. I have a sort of weird question: What is the Swahili Alphabet? You are a really good photographer!
From Lia D. Mrs. Heiser’s class
Thank You so much for coming to my school and teaching me about poverty!!! I think your goat video is very cute and I was wondering If Haiti is doing better about planting more trees and if not when do you think it will happen?
Jake,
Thank you so much for coming to our school and talking to us about your job! It was very interesting, and very fun to watch. You are very cool, and you are a very good photographer!
From Annie Stephens, Mrs. Heiser’s class
Hi, I am Sarah and I am in Mrs. Heiser’s class, I wanted to ask you a question. Are you making a video, and if so what is it on?
Dear Jake, I loved your presentation.How do you live in such a dry enviorenment?
Sincerely, Kota Meltzer
Hi! I was at your presentation at Tuckahoe in Mrs. Heiser’s class. Your presentation was inspirational. After listening to you talk to us about poverty I went home and talked to my dad about buying a goat. What your doing is truly making a difference in peoples life. I hope that someday I can make a difference just like you.
Sincerely,
Maggie Sheerin
Dear Jake,
I was in your lesson at Tuckahoe the other day. I am in Mrs. Heiser’s class. I really enjoyed your photos and they inspired me to donate a goat. I talked to my parents and i think we are going to get a goat. I really hope this will help a family. My question for you is over the past year has goat donations increased? If so that makes me very happy!
-Quinn Phillips
Hi, I’m Nicholas Cavallo from Mrs. Heiser’s class. I was wondering what country you are going to next? Also what kind of video do you plan on making in that country?
Hi! I was at your presentation while you were at Tuckahoe Elementary. You have really opened my eyes and made me extremely thankful for what I have. You make so many sacrifices to help people all over Africa. (and many other places!) What you do is fascinating and when I grow up I hope I can help people in poverty just like you!:) ~Piper Finkelson
Dear Jake,
Your presentation was amazing! I think it’s great that they have been so generous towards you. I’m really glad I learned about all the things you shared. My question is, how much longer are you going to be doing this?
Dear Jake,
I was at your presentation at Tuckahoe Elementary.I was wondering what kids who had to walk 10 or more miles to get to school did if they got tired?
From Sam
I think it’s really great how you’re a photographer and how you help Africans. How much longer do you think that you’ll be doing this?
-Carr
What was your first scary experience in Africa?
Thanks,
Marina =)
Dear Jake,
I thought your prensentation was inspiring and it really helped decide what to donate to this christmas.I am really moved by the work you do in Africa for people who are in need.Thank you for all you’ve done
sincerily,
Henry D. =)
P.S what do you enjoy most about your job?
Dear Jake,
Your presentation was great! When you were talking about how goats help the African people, I decided to buy a goat for the African People. Thank You for talking to us about the different developing countries!
From,
Daniel
Hi Jake,
Thank You so much for talking to us about your really cool job! It was interesting to learn about what happens in Africa, and what they have to go through every day! Thank you so much for coming in!
Sincerely,
Annie S.
Hi Mrs. Heiser’s class. Thanks for the awesome comments on my blog and for listening so well during the presentation. I’m so glad that many of you were inspired to buy a goat for a child in need. You’re making an incredible difference!