I’m on my way home from the slums of Nairobi, Kenya after working on our second documentary film. I’m exhausted, and my head is continually spinning. To put it simply, as with every Africa trip so far, I will not be the same. I was hoping to post every day while there, but with limited web access and two great writers, Bob Davidson and author Kelsey Timmerman on the trip, I decided to simply photo blog (via Facebook) and spend the majority of my time trying to run the crew as best as possible and fully soak in the experience.

It’s hard to explain or express what an experience this trip to Africa has been. Filming a documentary in the slums is bound to change you, but I was not expecting this. I had been to Kibera (Africa’s 2nd largest slum) and Mathare (Nairobi’s oldest) before, but not up close and personal.

We spent seven straight days trying to get to know the slum residents, seeing what they see, walking, touching and smelling their environment. The location was different than our last documentary project (This is My Home), but sadly many of the same issues exist, all of which are simply not right. Dangerous living structures, no roads, unhealthy water, no sanitation, no waste removal, lack of education, no health care, crime, fear, HIV/AIDS, loss of hope, and the vulnerability of children to simply name a few. It was a rare day when you didn’t turn your face to cry for a few minutes.

The issues of the slums are so complex – government corruption, health concerns, religious culture, commerce, structural issues, etc… And the fact of the matter is that us Westerners tend to think we actually live in an Extreme Home Makeover world. If we build this, or fund that project, all things get fixed and fall in place. But that way of thinking is simply not accurate, and it inevitably continues to add to the issues. The reality is that we need to help battle the biggest monster of all: generations of slum residents with mindset that slum life and its living conditions are acceptable. But, hopelessness cannot be an option.

However, it was a feeling that continued to surface wherever we went. Mathare Valley (a section of the Mathare slum) is without question the worst place I have ever been. With a contaminated river, treacherous pathways, raw sewage, horrible living conditions, and water not safe to drink – it’s simply an awful place to try to survive.

I will be sharing more stories and details related to the slums leading up to our documentary premiere (this Fall); however, I will leave you with a few facts, thoughts, and stories from this week: Read the rest of the entry >

You might be, without even knowing it…

Can apathy toward injustice hold a person as a captive, unable to make a difference? Or maybe it’s not the apathy, but the lack of information of how to truly help those facing harsh realities of poverty-stricken lands. Well, we’re about to find out.

Our good pal, author Kelsey Timmerman, has been taken hostage by his publisher, because of his indifference to injustice in Kenya. Since being “detained” to raise money to go serve in Africa, Kelsey has learned about Kibera, the largest slum south of the Sahara. Over 1 million people live on the outskirts of Nairobi in a slum where the average person lives without clean drinking water (read: mixed with sewage as there is only one latrine for every 100 people), without education (especially girls), and subject to gang tyranny, among other sad factors.

It’s time to do something.

Kelsey is hoping to raise enough money to partner with LIA, MacDonald Photography, and yours truly, to film a documentary about what can really change the situation: holistic community development through micro-enterprise. By giving people at the grass-roots level not only the dignity but also the practical necessity of having a stable, respected occupation, communities can change tremendously for the good of all. Together, we are hoping that this documentary will make the everyday American not only aware of the situation in African slums, but also of how to realistically help that situation change.

Want to escape apathy and help now? You can donate to the cause, learn more, help decide Kelsey’s fate by voting, or tweet this:
“Don’t be Held Hostage by Apathy! http://bit.ly/ae2XCA #apathyhostage”

Plus, all donors’ names will appear in the film credits. If you can’t wait for the release this fall, check out This is My Home, our first documentary about the street children of Ethiopia, and how LIA is working to bring hope into a desperate situation there.

Oh, and big props to our friends at Wiley and Relevant for helping us get the word out!

Have you ever wondered where your clothes are made or about the people who make them? Do you realize that the majority of the clothes bought in the U.S. do not come from this country? Our next interview is with author and friend, Kelsey Timmerman, who traveled around the world following his obsession of discovering who makes the clothes he wears. All of us at Rule29 love the concept of Kelsey’s book Where Are You Wearing. And after you meet him, a truly simple midwest guy looking to satisfy an overwhelming curiosity, you get the sense that he is a genuine article – check out his Flickr set for more proof. Enjoy this interview, one of the funniest we have had, and let us know what you think or “where you are wearing” today.

1: When did you first know you wanted to be a writer?
There wasn’t an epiphany or anything, just small little moments:

I won an award in 4th grade for a story about flying shoes.

In college I had a blast on an assignment for Religion 101 about Buddhism. I titled the paper “Quantum Leap of Faith” and it was largely based on the show “Quantum Leap” starring Scott Bakula. I got a C-.

I guess what really sealed the deal was when I started penning a column about some of my travels and realized that I could take folks around the world 800 words at a time.

Read the rest of the entry >

It’s hard to believe that summer is near halfway over, but that just means the fresh goodies from local farms and gardens are ready to be enjoyed. In that spirit, from our now one-year-old new home, we have cooked up a fresh Creative Matters boasting all natural ingredients. This tasty version is jam-packed with all kinds of creative goodness…please be careful, don’t eat too fast, or at least wait an hour before you go swimming.

:: Click here to download Creative Matters 21 ::

See you next Creative Matters,
Rule29

PS: An anniversary or special occasion coming up? Talk to us about creating a unique and customized book along with an accompanying micro-site. Check out Books Matter.

The last two months have provided lots of new things at Rule29. Like most of you, we are working hard to keep things rolling in these current conditions. In that hard work (or maybe this is just my excuse) I’m keeping up the new tradition of doing this every two months.

New Stuff: We finally launched our business tips and various ramblings on our new Designer Sobriety blog. Please check it out and comment away. Also follow DS on Twitter or Linked In.

In addition, we launched a new site highlighting our love and faith in great books by telling our clients’ unique and amazing stories. Check out Books Matter, which is a consortium of companies committed to creating the perfect book for your business.

Books and Movies: I was so bad about books these last two months, and I really didn’t get out to the theater. Bummer. But I do recommend three great books that I’m still working through. They couldn’t be more diverse. Check these out: Choosing To Cheat, Designing for the other 90%, Where are You Wearing. The only movies I was able to enjoy were some NetFlix magic. I dug them both: Expelled and ReCount.

Speaking: Our friends at AIGA Jacksonville had us down to talk about why we love design. Jacksonville in early March is always a great idea! Thanks AIGA Jax!

Raising Awareness: Thanks to a couple great friends we have two new ways to be involved with one of the organizations we support: Life in Abundance. If you love books check out their book microsite: Urban and Rural Hope. Or for our letterpress fans check out A Lasting Imprint.

Travel: Fun times in Jacksonville & Arizona. The Rule29 team also ventured to the great state of Pennsylvania for the Cheech™’s wedding. And I was honored to join the Life in Abundance board and attend their meeting at the chairman’s house in Louisville, KY.

New amigos: We have had the opportunity to start working and getting to know author Kelsey Timmerman (new blog coming soon). If you haven’t heard of his book Where Are You Wearing – check it out here. Or follow him on Twitter. By the way, where are you wearing right now?

Also we have got our foodie needs met working with Chef Jeremy from Niche Restaurant. Helping Niche get the news out of the amazing food they make has been a blast. Check Niche out here or follow Jeremy’s blog.

Great Cooking: Thanks to our friends at Appleton Coated and Utopia Paper, we participated in the Designer Iron Chef Challenge. We took on our friends from Appleton, Grip and Faust design. We finished second but had a great time cooking … with a special thanks to Chef Jeremy! Pictures are ready and video is coming soon.

This month holds a return trip to Africa for Rule29 and hopefully a bunch of new and interesting creative matter. Please let us know what you have been up to! See you in two months.