Have Vidcam, Will Travel ... Need $$$ ?

You want to travel to exotic lands where you can create videojournalism projects ... but you don't have the dough.

SalaamGarage, which leads small groups of visual journalists on worthwhile expeditions around the globe, is an expert at figuring out how to finance them.

SalaamGarage is a citizen journalist organization that partners with International NGOs and local non-profits. Participants (photographers, writers, videographers, etc.) create and share independent media projects that raise awareness and cause positive change in their online and offline social communities.

Now they've published a guide to funding your project, via social media -- including Facebook and WordPress.

The two methods for raising awareness and money documented here each have their advantages. Facebook is quicker, easier and does not require any technical background. Hosting your own site and blogging with WordPress is more technical, but it provides more customization options.

SalaamGarage's upcoming India trip is full, but they still have a few spaces left for their 2010 excursions to Vietnam and Guatemala.

Sign up now -- and start searching for your financial underwriting.

We Have a Winner!

When we reached 1,234 members* of the KobreGuide Facebook Group, we had a drawing for a free Prof. Kobre Lightscoop (retail value $35), which dramatically improves SLR flash photography.

And our winner is.... Amanda Koster (right), whose SalaamGarage leads groups of visual journalists to Third World countries, where they work with NGOs to help raise funds and awareness for worthy projects.

Congratulations, Amanda! We hope you'll take your new Lightscoop on your upcoming excursions to India, Guatemala, and Vietnam, and let us know how you like it. (Better yet, show us!)

Thanks to all who've signed up for our KobreGuide Facebook Group. It's the best way to stay abreast of KobreGuide.com stories and developments. (And you can follow us on Twitter, too!)

And please keep an eye on all the great work Amanda is doing over at SalaamGarage.com.

* Our Facebook Group is now up to 1,252 members. If you haven't joined yet, please do -- and invite your friends.

SalaamGarage Has a Slot for You

Amanda Koster's Salaam Garage has one more slot open for her upcoming 12-day journey to India, Sept. 18 - Oct. 1.

Photojournalists and videojournalists are paired with a non-government organization (NGO) to help document and tell their stories on the Web. Itinerary and application details here.

Amanda Koster's Magical Mystery Tours

Want to go to Guatemala this June? Photojournalist Amanda Koster wants to take you with her. Her traveling band of visual storytellers, which she calls SalaamGarage (for reasons you'll have to visit her Website to discover), still has a few open slots.

SalaamGarage leads trips that combine cultural immersion travel with media storytelling with and for NGOs around the world. Think: humanitourism meets Web 2.0.

Our trips around the world connect participants with international Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs). Participants (storytellers: passionate and not necessarily professional writers, bloggers, videographers, photographers, etc.) commit to creating and sharing unique, independent media projects that raise awareness and cause positive change. We are the media now. Join us.

How does this work:
1. come with us / take a trip
2. team up, create a project with an international NGO
3. travel around the region
4. go home and share the project
5. cause change

Gosh, she makes it all sound so easy! Roll up, roll up for her magical mystery tour.



More info on Amanda's Website, blog, and SalaamGarage blog.