UNC: Andaman Rising

At least once a year, UNC's visual journalism program works on a collaborative project abroad somewhere to create a documentary multimedia website. Back in the summer of 2006, I participated on a site about the Atacama Desert in Chile. Now, I'd like to share the latest project that UNC has produced: Andaman Rising, which looks at life after the 2004 tsunami in Thailand.

Based out of a village next to the Andaman Sea, students used photos, audio, video, graphics and design to craft cultural snapshots of a region that has risen above tragedy. Working with a team of Thai translators, they documented the story of a teenage cross-dresser in a traditional Muslim community, the narrative of an illegal immigrant family from Myanmar, and the spiritual transformation of a young monk. This is the culmination of work from 14 JOMC students, five professional coaches and direction from my professor Pat Davison.

There is a lot of content on the site, so I encourage you to look at it when you have at least a few moments.