Resilience in the Horn
Resilience in the Horn
USAID / GAIN
March 2024
Documentary + Photography
A 10-day assignment documenting nutrition outreach programmes across remote clinics — capturing the quiet determination of healthcare workers and the communities they serve.
The Story
When USAID and GAIN needed to document the impact of their nutrition programmes in the Horn of Africa, they called us. The brief was clear: capture not just the clinical work, but the human stories behind the statistics.
Over ten days, our team of three travelled across four remote clinic sites. We shot documentary interviews with healthcare workers, captured stills of community health sessions, and filmed the long journeys families make to access basic nutrition services.
The challenge was earning trust quickly — in communities where cameras are rare, and where dignity matters more than drama.
We spent the first two days without gear, simply listening, sharing tea, and building relationships. By day three, we were welcomed into homes, clinics, and conversations that shaped the entire narrative.
Project Details
Client
USAID & GAIN
Duration
10 days on location
Team
3 crew members
Deliverables
- 15-minute documentary
- 120+ edited stills
- 3 social media cut-downs
Services Provided
- Cinematography
- Photography
- Post-production
Field Highlights
Community Health Worker Leading a Nutrition Session
A community health worker leads a nutrition education session at a mobile clinic in the Somali region.
Mother and Child at Nutrition Screening
Capturing moments of care, resilience, and access to life-saving nutritional support.
Health Worker Recording Measurements
Healthcare staff documenting nutrition progress during routine outreach screenings.
Behind the Scenes
Audio
Wind protection and lav placement were critical. Open landscapes and unpredictable gusts meant constant monitoring throughout the production.
Lighting
We used a single key light with natural window fill, keeping setups minimal to avoid intimidating interviewees and disrupting the authenticity of the environment.
Human Moments
The first two days were intentionally spent without cameras — drinking tea, listening, and building the trust that ultimately shaped every frame of the story.