Creative project shines a light on aid worker trauma
In June 2013, while working in the Haiti earthquake response, humanitarian and aid worker, Amy Brathwaite set out to work on a solution for the psychosocial struggles that herself and fellow aid workers face during disaster response. Amy’s Kick at the Darkness - A Photographic Journey crowdfunding campaign on StartSomeGood raised over $6,000, which helped create a short documentary entitled “Kick at the Darkness - An exploration of the psychosocial impact of humanitarian aid work.” Amy hopes this documentary will help to increase dialogue within the humanitarian community and help aid workers heal and share. I recently spoke with Amy, about the campaign and what she believes helped make it so successful:
How was your crowdfunding experience? Were there any nervous moments along the way?
It surpassed anything I could’ve hoped for! I spoke to enough trusted friends and received substantial guidance and direction from the team at StartSomeGood that I believed if I was vulnerable and shared my story that it would work. And it did.
There were definitely moments where I questioned myself, or wondered if I was asking too much, but I kept nurturing it, sharing it and it came together. I am very grateful to all those who believed in the story enough to make a contribution.
Has there been any positive feedback and/or support from the focused community?
I’ve received tremendously emotive feedback from a number of people who have viewed the film. One of the most gratifying feelings is seeing someone nod their head in agreement when watching the film. I just feel a little burst of connection inside, knowing “they get it! they hear my message.”
What kind of legwork is involved in raising money through crowdfunding?
Talking about your idea. Asking for what you want and being transparent. It’s such a simple thing. I nurtured my campaign, sought feedback, did research and most importantly employed the advice given to me. I asked friends to support me and lined up a few people to make a donation as soon as the campaign launched. It provided tremendous momentum and validated the statistic that “those campaigns with contributions in the first 3 days usually surpass the tipping point,” -StartSomeGood.
What worked during the campaign? What did not work?
I feel very lucky that it seemed to have a momentum of it’s own and I credit reaching out on an individual level to my friends and community and asking for their support directly (or by sharing it) to help me to achieve my goal.
My project discussed a sensitive issue, so I think people need to feel that I was authentic with my intention and if they sense it, they will connect and support. I’ve realized it’s not about ‘making something perfect’, but about being courageously imperfect and vulnerable.
Do you have some useful insights for any future crowdfunders?
Be transparent. Be open. Be authentic. Believe in yourself and your message.
With help from some talented friends, Amy and company are in the process of creating the website www.amybrathwaite.com that will include a page for the Documentary as well as a discussion board for aid workers to share their stories and connect. “It will up and running very soon!”