(Guest Blog) Two Parrot Productions Keeps Their Global Cameras Running Full Blast

-By Bill Kizorek

Jessica Kizorek directed in Burkino Faso, Bill Kizorek in Cambodia, and Carly Kizorek just wrapped up taping in Southern Ethiopia. Our father and daughters production company has just just completed either shooting or editing three separate nonprofit documentaries (for Women Thrive, Micro-Credit Enterprises, and IIRR).

Carly listening to translation of what students are learning

Earlier this week, we finished shooting in rural Ethiopia. When I say rural, I mean, in one three-day period, driving 26 hours, much of it on pot-holed, washed out, and non-existant roads to get to the locations of the shoots.We were there to document the collaboration of the International Institute of Rural Reconstruction and their partners, such as AFD (Action for Development). This week we filmed at Pastoral School projects - an innovative educational delivery systems that allows pastoral and nomadic families to allowed their children to attend classes which IIRR is developing. They customize not only the hours (early morning and early evening classes), but also use curriculum tailored the to the needs of the local animal-centric population.

Kids waiting for school to open

It was surprising to see just how content and happy the people in these settlement appeared - in spite of an almost total lack of access to electricity or running water. Thanks to IIRR and their global partners, however, they now DO have access to education....

Day classes are lit by sunlight, at night by one solar bulb

This is Bill Kizorek, senior partner at Two Parrot Productions, third blog entry for Charity Navigator. We invited him initially because we helped match up Two Parrot Productions with several of the charities who eventually benefited from their grants. But he keeps writing because many of our blog readers enjoyed his prior posts.

Bill doing a sound check in the field outside of Pastoral school