Getting people to stand up and take action is at the core of the Mectizan Donation Program‘s remit – especially when the intended audience are Ministers of Health in African countries. This is the first of a series of films intended to get key influencers to commit to putting their name to a 30 year-long elimination programme – ridding Africa of River Blindness or onchocerciasis. If we work together we can stamp out oncho!

We used a local fixer to go in search of stories that were set up in advance of our shooting producer director’s arrival. We then worked with a wonderful local photographer and camera assistant to create a more integrated team and integrate more in to remote and challenging settings.

It started off a relationship with Cameroon and Nigeria that continues to this day, adding to the list of the many African countries that we have ties with.

Stamp Out Oncho is a campaign idea that we came up with on behalf of the Mectizan Donation Programme, to galvanise ministers of health around Africa to take an interest in eliminating the crippling and unnecessary disease, onchocerciasis or River Blindness.

The success of the campaign, to get everyone to take Mectizan to protect them from River Blindness, has been enabled by village health workers like Edoa Pierre, one of many community drug distributors who travel miles and miles to deliver Mectizan in communities around Cameroon.

Mme Chebin is on the frontline of community drug distribution to eradicate Onchocerciasis (also known as oncho). She lets nothing get in the way of her making sure that each and every person takes their Mectizan treatment in her community in Cameroon.

The effectiveness of partners in the Task Force For Global Health‘s programmes such as Mectizan Donation Program are thanks to a global network that reaches far-off places that are often without formal medical infrastructure. For last mile delivery of lifesaving medicine, its often down to community drug distributors like Mme Chebin to come to the aid of their fellow community members.

This interview on the fight against oncho and many others from this trip to Cameroon was the result of using a local core team working with local partners and a shooting director from the UK, Lewis Davies filming to a script and schedule that allowed for space to spend time with people like Mme Chebin.

As experts in global health storytelling, we’ve had many opportunities to hone our craft, and get to understand the realities on the ground that make for emotive stories which burst the bubble. Years of fine-tuning our approach to interviews, and the use of a trusted network of local expert filmmakers, have enabled us to develop our approach and deliver video content that are compelling and deliver key messaging where it’s needed.

To find out more about how we craft films that have positive impact, take a look at our Malaria Storytelling article.

This film looks at the success in overcoming a crippling disease that has besieged Nigeria, and large parts of Africa for decades. Onchocerciasis, commonly known as river blindness causes unbearable itching and ultimately blindness to the point where river-side communities were abandoned.

Thanks to the dedication of people like Nasarawa State Coordinator for Neglected Tropical Diseases, Jacob Righain, the support of NGO partners The Carter Center and donation of the treating drug Mectizan by Merck & Co., local communities have been empowered to break the transmission of river blindness and create a platform for future disease interventions.

Filmed just before the COVID-19 lockdown kicked in, we worked with a talented Nigerian crew to get right to the heart of the story. We edited back in the UK and created a bespoke soundtrack to help transport the viewer deeper into the world of neglected tropical diseases.

It forms part of a wider suite of films used in different ways that have told the Mectizan Donation Program story over the years, collaborating with multiple global partners from the Nigerian Ministry of Health and local government, to Sightsavers, the Carter Center and other key players in the game to get full engagement from the offset.

Costa Foundation Film – Smiley Charity Film Awards 2023 Finalist

Client Brief
The Costa Foundation is the charitable branch of Costa Coffee. They raise all funds through customer donations to carry out life-changing work abroad. The client wanted a film that showed how this work supports some of the world’s most disadvantaged children. The goal was to inspire staff and customers while highlighting the Foundation’s global impact.

Our Approach
To achieve this, we focused on the people behind the initiative: the Foundation’s dedicated Store Champions. Motivated by a desire to give back to communities that grow Costa’s coffee beans, these champions developed innovative ways to raise awareness and funds. For example, they have helped build over 90 schools and 750 classrooms in ten countries.

The film also highlighted the challenges faced during the Covid-19 pandemic. Despite restrictions on collecting donations, the Foundation remained committed to involving customers in its journey. Through interviews, footage of projects, and dynamic visuals, we showed how their work changes children’s education and improves lives.

Impact and Results
The resulting film demonstrates the power of community-driven fundraising. It inspires customers and staff to continue supporting the Costa Foundation. Moreover, it clearly communicates the global reach of the Foundation’s work, showing tangible results in education and infrastructure.

By combining heartfelt storytelling with clear visuals, the film connects audiences to the Foundation’s purpose. It showcases the commitment of both staff and customers, demonstrating how their contributions create meaningful change. As a result, the Costa Foundation film not only celebrates past achievements but also encourages ongoing engagement and support, reinforcing the charity’s mission to give children a better foundation for life.