THE MILE PROJECT

VISUAL STORYTELLING

COMPASS & LIGHT

Professional videography and photography services
that equip nonprofits to educate and inspire.

THE MILE PROJECT PORTFOLIO HIRE US NEIGHBOR SERIES COMPASS & LIGHT NEIGHBOR SERIES

VISUAL STORYTELLING

FOR NONPROFITS

Professional videography and photography services
that equip nonprofits to educate and inspire.

PORTFOLIO HIRE US

FOR NONPROFITS

Stories That Inspire

– WHO WE ARE –

We are a nonprofit organization that provides professional video and photography at affordable prices for charities. Whether a nonprofit is local or global, large or small, a church or a foundation, we exist to help share their stories and further their missions.

Learn More About Us

– OUR IMPACT –

500+
CHARITIES SERVED

1000+
VIDEOS PRODUCED

50
COUNTRIES FILMED

WE WOULD BE HONORED TO HELP TELL YOUR STORY.

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Rofelia Tchissambou Makosso’s small shop on a st

Rofelia Tchissambou Makosso’s small shop on a street in Pointe-Noire, Republic of Congo, was once just a table. When her dream of owning a business was first born, she started by selling plastic on the street of her neighborhood. Eventually, her business was successful enough that she could expand into a store and sell household goods and food. For a while, her shop was not only stable — it was growing.

Then came the robbery.

Rofelia woke up one morning in 2021 to find that every piece of merchandise had been stolen, and she would have to build up her inventory from scratch.

“It was a devastating loss,” Rofelia says.

HOPE International helped Rofelia recover from the robbery. By providing her with a loan, Rofelia was able to not only restore the inventory that was lost, but also expand her business to include other products, like school uniforms and shoes. And as her business grows, so do her dreams for her future.

“I am confident that, with God’s help and the support of HOPE Congo, I will accomplish remarkable things,” Rofelia says.

Charlotte is the most difficult city in the U.S. f

Charlotte is the most difficult city in the U.S. for children to rise out of poverty — and UrbanPromise Charlotte exists to give the city’s youth an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty.

UrbanPromise Charlotte was founded in 2013 with the goal for its youth to grow as mentors for younger students and turn into agents of restoration in their communities. 10 years in, UrbanPromise is starting to see that cycle: The earliest students have become mentors, or “StreetLeaders,” and former StreetLeaders are now adults who can make an impact in their communities.

“Our children and youth are the solution to the problems that exist in their neighborhoods,” says Jimmy McQuilkin, founder and executive director of UrbanPromise Charlotte.

We interviewed Jimmy in 2015, when UrbanPromise Charlotte was two years old and 65 students were involved in its after school programs. Our team created a series of videos for UrbanPromise Charlotte’s 10th anniversary in the fall of 2023, and we are honored to have served this organization as it continues to grow.

In the backyard of a hospital in a North Indian vi

In the backyard of a hospital in a North Indian village, preschoolers are heard every weekday counting to 10 and singing the days of the week.

In addition to running a hospital that serves as the local medical center for up to 90 villages, the hospital offers its child development center as a resource for local preschool-aged children who generally have never been exposed to education. Staff pick up children from local villages and take them to the school, where they are then bathed, fed two meals and taught in both Hindi and English while parents work.

The preschool primarily serves children from the Musahar people group, a Dalit subcaste that is one of the most marginalized in India. Many Musahar families have to rely on daily wages to survive, and children in the North Indian communities often pick up work in fields or brick kilns to support their families. Because of this, literacy rates among Musahars reach a mere 3% — and only 1% among Musahar women.

“Among the community that we are working with, education is not even seen as a need. It is nonexistent,” says B., one of the school’s teachers.

When their youngest family members receive an education, Musahar families start challenging the rhythms and expectations that have existed for centuries among lower castes. Households resort less to violence, engage in better hygiene and begin to learn English. By instilling in children a desire to learn, B. says, that child can then bring the academic, social and relational knowledge back to their families — offering them perspectives on life outside of what they’ve been taught from lower caste society for generations.

“You know, these are people who have spent centuries being downtrodden and oppressed and accepting that this is all they will be,” B. says, “and we want to be able to open a path to something greater and bigger for them.”

Fatou and Ibrahima are from Ngonine, a village abo

Fatou and Ibrahima are from Ngonine, a village about a two hour drive away from the capital of Dakar. Ngonine has only two wells, one church and no medical facilities within its 25-square mile area — a village that 2,000 people call home.

Fatou and Ibrahima are Serer, a people group consisting of about 1 million people across Senegal and The Gambia. The Serer people are primarily agricultural, growing crops such as millet (grain), rice and tree crops and caring for livestock, like cattle, sheep and goats.

At the time these images were taken, Fatou was sorting millet and Ibrahima was planting onion.

Both of them grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and th

Both of them grew up in Richmond, Virginia, and they both loved tennis. But in order to play together, they had to break the law.

Tom Chewning didn’t meet Arthur Ashe until the early 1960s when they were young adults competing at a tennis tournament in West Virginia. Despite being renowned players in their local tennis communities, they never crossed paths. Arthur was Black and Tom was white, and segregation laws prevented white and Black individuals from playing on the same court. The two became friends, and chose to take a risk by practicing together at Arthur’s local Black-only field.

“It all of a sudden made segregation not a concept, but it became personal,” Tom says.

Arthur was the first Black man to win the U.S. Open, Australian Open and Wimbledon — and be ranked as the No. 1 tennis player in the world. When he died, Tom joined a team to design a statue honoring Arthur on Monument Avenue, a prominent Richmond street that was home to five other statues – all leaders of the Confederacy. As a result of the 2020 national reckoning with racial injustice, those monuments came down — leaving Arthur’s as the only one left standing.

In honor of Black History Month, watch as Tom reflects on his friendship with Arthur and the legacy he left behind.

A nonprofit in Guatemala exists to defend nature — and it’s spreading its mission through forests and farms to teach Guatemalans how to do the same.

Four protected areas across the country are under the care of Defensores de la Naturaleza — or “defenders of nature.” The organization works to conserve these forests and parks by collecting consistent biological data, organizing reforestation efforts and proposing plans that advocate for the sustainable management of natural resources. The nonprofit also collaborates with local governments and more than 500 communities to promote environmental education and implement initiatives that teach communities how to care for the natural resources they consume.

Scientists, farmers and entrepreneurs are all part of Defensores. Partnering with local community members creates a grassroots movement where sustainable actions and mindsets spread from individuals to families and communities as a whole — like that of Heidy Jiménez Coc, whose family’s farm benefitted from Defensores’ work.

“The community itself has experienced change,” Heidy says. “We feel very satisfied, and we feel that we are no longer the same as we were years ago.”

Defensores aims to instill in Guatemalans — from farmers to government leaders — a unified commitment to conservation that not only affects their country, but also impacts the world.

“I think that Defensores is making a small impact on the whole issue of conservation worldwide,” says Javier Márquez, the nonprofit’s executive director. “The environmental issue must be paid attention to — starting at home.”

Next week, our team travels to El Salvador and Hon

Next week, our team travels to El Salvador and Honduras, where we'll capture stories of youth who have lived — and are still living — inside the countries' detention centers.

In 2014, Honduras closed its government-run orphanages and El Salvador drastically reduced the number of youth in theirs. As a result, many at-risk youth are ending up incarcerated. Orphan Helpers exists to provide these youth with one-on-one mentorship, education and spiritual guidance as they adapt to life in the centers and work toward their release.

We're honored to spend the week serving Orphan Helpers and capturing how they enter challenging spaces to provide hope and opportunities for the youth of El Salvador and Honduras.

Nestled into the side of a hill in the highlands o

Nestled into the side of a hill in the highlands of Guatemala is a rather unorthodox school, surrounded by 25,000 tires and consisting of cone-shaped rooms made primarily out of recycled trash. Inside its rounded walls, along with plenty of plants, are hundreds of students learning hands-on how to be sustainably-oriented members of their communities.

The Hero School is the flagship school of Long Way Home, a nonprofit dedicated to environmental education that specializes in green building throughout Guatemala. In a country where over 50% of the population doesn’t continue schooling past sixth grade, educational funding is generally insufficient, says the school’s principal, Henry Adolfo Quiná Chalí — and many students find themselves working with limited resources in the classroom.

“It’s the same as a musician or artist. If there is a painter without a paintbrush, they can’t make art,” says Henry.

Without financial support from the government, Guatemalan schools have to sometimes look to other sources for funding — such as nonprofits like Mite. By connecting donors with causes that matter to them, Mite helped gather funds for Long Way Home to invest in a science laboratory for the students at the Hero School in San Juan Comalapa.

The Hero School’s laboratory is the town’s first one, and with their new microscopes and glass beakers, students now have the opportunity to experiment and discover in a safe, hands-on environment — one that Long Way Home’s executive director, Matthew Paneitz, makes the kids excited to come to school.

“Every single day there is a beautiful energy that you can see in the kids’ faces,” Matthew says.

As our team approaches the end of the year, we do

As our team approaches the end of the year, we do so with joy and gratitude in our hearts — for the dedicated nonprofits we’ve served, the creative projects we’ve worked on and the faithful supporters who have become part of the Silent Images story. We can’t wait to see where next year takes us.

Happy holidays from the Silent Images team.

Destinee had one goal in the winter of 2018: to fi

Destinee had one goal in the winter of 2018: to find stability for her family. She was a single mom with three kids, and she came to Charlotte hoping to find it.

“I knew I wanted this to be home, but I didn’t know what measures to take to make it home,” Destinee says.

The Harvest Center helped. After hearing about it from a friend, Destinee and her kids joined the CLT Passport Program, where they received resources and support on how to overcome trauma, poverty and situational homelessness. Destinee’s family was one of the first to ever graduate from the program.

“The Harvest Center is the most meaningful spot I have in Charlotte,” she says.

Since graduating, Destinee has started her own nail polish business, had a child and got married — in The Harvest Center’s chapel. The organization’s goal is to give individuals the opportunity to thrive, and Destinee is one of thousands whose lives have been — and continue to be — transformed by the support The Harvest Center provides.

“They have empowered me to keep thriving,” Destinee says.

To say that Alfredo Eduardo Chacón Muñoz has a g

To say that Alfredo Eduardo Chacón Muñoz has a green thumb would be an understatement. The garden he tends to is quite larger than a raised bed in his backyard — it’s a national park.

Alfredo oversees a nursery that is home to hundreds of trees that will contribute to reforestation efforts in the Sierra de las Minas Biosphere Reserve in Guatemala. He cares for both coniferous and deciduous trees — seeding them, tending to the sprouts and planting adolescent trees in designated areas across the reserve. Alfredo works for Defensores de la Naturaleza, a nonprofit dedicated to overseeing and conserving Guatemala’s protected land.

Watch as Alfredo introduces some of the more green members of the nursery family.

For years, Donald’s bed was a bench. His battle

For years, Donald’s bed was a bench. His battle with addiction left him homeless — and hopeless. He was “walking dead” and unaware of any good he could do with his life.

“Dope took everything inside of me — inside of me and outside of me,” Donald says.

One Thanksgiving Day, Donald found Charlotte Rescue Mission. It was the free turkey and stuffing that brought him in, but it was the promise for recovery that made him stay. Donald joined Rebound, the organization’s residential recovery program for men battling addiction, and started on a path to recovery.

Donald found joy in working as a chef in the kitchen and as a barista at the coffee shop during his time as a resident. Today, he continues to serve the nonprofit by doing laundry for current Rebound residents. He’s been sober ever since starting the program.

“This place has given me life,” Donald says.

When he was using, Donald would do anything to get his next hit, and he now treats his recovery in the same way: He’ll do anything to stay sober.

“And guess what?” Donald says. “It’s beautiful. It is so beautiful.”

Silent Images started when our founder, David, was

Silent Images started when our founder, David, was roaming through Sudan with a camera and a burning conviction to tell stories. 17 years later, the cameras may be newer and the team may have grown, but the heart of Silent Images remains the same: to tell stories that move viewers to go, give or pray.

Having completed more than 150 local and global productions this year, stories have taken us everywhere within the 485 loop and beyond — to Guatemala, Republic of the Congo, Belize and Burundi. We have much to celebrate looking back on 2023, but we are most grateful for the support you have given us, which encourages us to keep seeking out stories of hope at home and around the world.

Thank you for believing in our mission and for being part of our story.

The small African nation of Burundi is known to ha

The small African nation of Burundi is known to have the lowest GDP per capita in the world — placing it among the poorest countries on the planet. A history of political instability, violence and war have dampened Burundi's ability to thrive economically, but hope continues to take root in the country that locals proudly claim as the “heart of Africa.”

Local and international nonprofits have continued to work together to provide Burundians with access to education, healthcare and financial literacy, encouraging change starting with people. Nonprofits like Mission Partners for Christ prioritize collaborating with organizations already on the ground in order to intentionally address the need for healthcare among rural communities in Burundi.

The nonprofits we serve inspire us, and we are proud to serve organizations that encourage real change — and foster hope while doing so.

Before finding The Harvest Center, Jalisa was look

Before finding The Harvest Center, Jalisa was looking for an escape — from her relationship, from living in her car, from her life. She was a young mother with a distanced family who was told she couldn’t amount to anything. She felt broken.

“I didn’t think I was going to make it this far,” Jalisa says. “I wanted to quit everyday.”

What The Harvest Center offered Jalisa was more than a place to stay. Its residential program, the CLT Passport Program, is a 12-18 month program that provides individuals and families with a multifaceted approach to overcoming trauma, poverty and situational homelessness. Through the program, Jalisa has received therapy, financial and occupational mentorship, spiritual guidance and support from a community that loves her — and that she’s learned to love.

“You could come here broken, damaged,” Jalisa says, “… but you’re gonna leave healed.”

No one chooses foster care. There are more than 5

No one chooses foster care.

There are more than 500 children in the foster care system in Mecklenburg County, but less than 60 families are licensed to care for them — and nearly a third of those children end up getting placed outside of the county due to lack of local resources.

Congregations for Kids has made it their mission to mobilize the Charlotte community to advocate and support children in the foster care system. The nonprofit trains and equips foster parents, mentors, volunteers and donors so that anyone in Charlotte can know how to support children in foster care.

Learn more here: @congregationsforkids

In Guatemala, one in three girls becomes a mother

In Guatemala, one in three girls becomes a mother before the age of 18 — making it a country with one of the highest adolescent pregnancy rates in the region. In a nation where resources on reproductive health are limited for Indigenous women, a nonprofit is traveling by car, bus and foot to the most remote areas to make sure that young women and girls get the maternal care they need.

Wuqu’ Kawoq’s goal is to provide medical care, consultation and education on reproductive health to Indigenous Maya women and girls in rural areas. Language barriers and cultural stigmas often prevent pregnant Indigenous women from seeking out medical care at clinics or hospitals, and through a team of midwives and field nurses, Wuqu’ Kawoq meets pregnant women in their homes, where they can provide check-ups and share medical advice in a safe space.

By educating pregnant women and girls on reproductive health, Wuqu’ Kawoq creates a ripple effect: As young women learn how to care for themselves and their bodies, they teach their families how to do the same. By gaining access to the opportunity to learn, Indigenous Maya women and girls empower themselves to prioritize their health and share that knowledge with future generations.

Freddy’s dream of becoming the manager of his ow

Freddy’s dream of becoming the manager of his own sewing workshop started with his children. When they started going to school, he didn’t know how to sew, and he would buy their uniforms from local vendors. Eventually, he decided he wanted to make their uniforms himself — and then spent five months with a teacher learning how to sew.

Freddy opened his sewing workshop in 2003, but not without severe financial challenges. Materials are expensive in Republic of the Congo, and for 10 years Freddy worked hard to keep his business strong and continue supporting his family, who also helped out at the workshop. A friend introduced Freddy to Hope International in 2013, who provided him with a loan that he could use to purchase all the inventory he needed at the time.

Since receiving that first loan, Freddy’s business has thrived. His space has expanded, he’s able to provide salaries for his team of six employees — and most importantly, his family is healthy.

Freddy’s dreams lie abroad: He hopes to one day be able to purchase materials outside of Congo, and he also wants his children to be able to continue their education internationally. As his children grow up and grow out of their uniforms, he dreams of continuing to provide for the other children in his community — and giving them the opportunity to pursue their own dreams.

Carlos represents the intersection of art, agricul

Carlos represents the intersection of art, agriculture and history — and through his paintings, he aims to weave these elements together.

Art is in Carlos’ blood — and as a resident of San Juan Comalapa, it’s impossible to avoid. More than 2,000 of the Guatemalan town’s 35,000 people are active painters, and the streets are full of galleries and murals, including the longest mural in the country. The town is a collection of naïve art, a type of folk art created by artists who have never received formal training in painting. Everyday life is the main source of inspiration for this type of art, and in their paintings, artists reflect their observations of the world around them and the history of their homes.

Carlos’ grandfather, the man featured in the mural, was a farmer and an expert in ancestral history — making him an important adviser in the town’s political sphere. Agriculture continues to be a core part of the town’s Kaqchikel Maya identity, and in front of his partially-completed mural, Carlos beams with pride for his grandfather and eagerness to share his heritage.

When Hurricane Earl formed as a Category 1 hurrica

When Hurricane Earl formed as a Category 1 hurricane over the Caribbean in August of 2016, it threatened the small nation of Belize with high winds, torrential rainfall and devastating flooding. It destroyed buildings and homes, including Patricia’s — and it wasn’t until May of 2023 that she could finally move into her new place.

Patricia is a single mother of three living in Belize City’s South Side community. The hurricane flooded her entire neighborhood, forcing Patricia to use a bathtub to navigate through the drowned streets. For years after Earl, Patricia and her children lived in a makeshift house made of plywood and tin on her property — and it wasn’t until a local pastor and community leader partnered with Charlotte-based Young Black Leadership Alliance (YBLA) that she felt the vision of her future home come alive.

YBLA joined the community and local carpenters to help build Patricia a home, and by May, Patricia was holding the key to her new home in her hand.

“I thank God for everybody coming together to build this home for me and my three kids,” Patricia says.

Patricia’s biggest hope for her new house is to be able to host again — to invite her friends and neighbors into the home she had waited almost seven years for.

“You can’t give up, because if you give up you will fall,” Patricia says. “So you have to be strong.”

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