“If there’s one thing I like to leave an audience with, it’s a sense of the vast potential that we all have within us to do great things, and to make a difference in this world—no matter who we are.”—Michael Davie

Join Emmy Award-winning filmmaker and journalist Michael Davie as he shares dramatic and uplifting stories from Africa—a continent often misrepresented in our news media. Born in Zimbabwe, Davie chronicles the lives of common people caught in the crosscurrents of political, cultural, and environmental change. His recent work for Ripple Effect Images, a team of photojournalists documenting aid programs, has helped empower women in emerging nations around the world.

In this inspiring presentation, you’ll witness stories as diverse as the battle to save the Congo’s endangered mountain gorillas, a heroic teacher’s impact in Cape Town, and a group of South African prisoners who are transformed in preparation for the National Prison Choir Competition. Davie evokes both the hope and heartache of Africa, with one goal in mind: to raise awareness about the courage and humanity he has encountered among its people. Traversing a land where there are few easy answers, Davie asks the tough questions and gives a voice to the Africa we rarely see. Enriching his presentation with tales of adventure, extraordinary personal encounters, and riveting film clips, Davie appeals to all those wanting to understand Africa today and its role in our future.

Recommended for grades 9–12.

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See a trailer for Michael Davie’s film The Choir: