The Photographer: Graphic Memoir about Docs in Afghanistan

Boing Boing has a review of "The Photographer: Into war-torn Afghanistan with Doctors Without Borders", a collaboration between photographer Didier Lefevre, graphic novelist Emmanuel Guibert, and designer Frederic Lemercier.

Insight Argentina and ph15 Documentary

Recently, my friend's volunteer placement organization, Insight Argentina, was the subject of a documentary:

Insight Argentina: Volunteering in Argentina's Social Sector
Directed by Mimi Butler and funded by Jennifer Webster

The second half of the film focuses on ph15, a photography workshop founded by Martin Rosenthal for the children of the "Hidden City" - a slum on the outskirts of Buenos Aires. You can learn more here and here. The ph15 portion of the documentary begins at the 15:30 mark. You can watch the documentary full-size and choose scenes at Google Video. Visit Insight Argentina if you are looking for a South American adventure in social volunteerism.

The Gift of a Water Buffalo

Happy Holidays! I wanted to share with you one of the more memorable gifts I've received in a long time - a real live water buffalo from Heifer International! That's her in the picture with her adoptive mom - a subsistence farmer in Asia. The buffalo will provide support to the family farm with milk and hard work, and when she has calves, they will be passed on to others in community, helping a new family move towards self-reliance. Can't beat that for a gift that keeps on giving!
If you're looking for a unique present, dispense with the usual gift baskets and grab someone a Llama or a Pig!
You can learn more about Heifer International and their "Passing on the Gift" program in this video.