OUR MISSION
Future Film Global is partnering with The Kibera Community Empowerment Organization (KCEO) to host a 10-day hands-on film workshop in Kibera, one of the world's largest slums, located on the outskirts of Nairobi, Kenya. The workshop will educate 15 young filmmakers on how to write, produce, direct, and edit short, powerful branded-content. These videos will showcase nonprofits and local businesses operating in Kibera and making positive change in the community.

The benefits of our mission are two-fold. First, worthy Kibera-based organizations will receive free, high-quality content to promote their ventures. Second, students will learn to create eye-catching content that meets clients’ needs. Most importantly, they will begin to gain marketable skills that can lead to well-paid employment within the Kenyan film industry.

This initiative heralds an exciting partnership between KCEO Founding Director, Joshwa Tambo and American filmmaker / educator, Michael Rohrbaugh.

HOW MICHAEL MET JOSHWA
How did Michael, a filmmaker from the States, end up partnering with Joshwa, a community organizer from Kibera? Let's set the stage...

Michael's father, Jim, is a pediatric neurologist, and while in medical school, he spent an epic summer living in Kenya, providing care to a Masai tribe, and helping deliver babies on the open plains of the Serengeti. So, from a young age, Kenya loomed large in Michael's imagination. And, as fate would have it, years later, when Michael was completing his MFA in film directing at UCLA, he was invited to Kenya to lead a month-long workshop with an organization called Y-Fi Africa. Below are a few photos from that experience.

After the workshop, Michael visited Kibera, met Joshwa, and learned about the incredible work he was doing in his community. Here are some photos Michael took their first day together, touring the streets of Kibera.

At the time, under Joshwa’s leadership, the kibera empowerment organization, was helping raise tuition for young women to attend high school. For the past several years, my family and I have been honored to help two young women, Brenda and Emmaculate (featured below with Joshwa) complete their high school educations. Throughout that process, Joshwa and I stayed in touch and continued to brainstorm ways to collaborate. Flash forward several years, Michael and Joshwa are proud to host this exciting 10-day workshop in Kibera!

JOSHWA'S WORK LEADING THE KIBERA EMPOWERMENT ORGANIZATION
Established in 2011, Kenya Community Empowerment Organization (KCEO) has been operating primarily within Nairobi's informal settlements, as well as Kisumu and Busia in Western Kenya. Focused on uplifting marginalized communities, KCEO empowers residents of these areas through various initiatives centered around gender, women's rights, disability, and inclusion.

Since its inception, KCEO has provided need-based scholarships to 217 bright students, granting them access secondary, tertiary, and university education. Through its digital literacy program, KCEO has trained 100 students on basic and advanced computer literacy and connected them with tech employment opportunities. KCEO has also incubated a remarkable 271 women-led businesses, providing support and resources to foster their growth and sustainability. So far, KCEO has invested in 71 businesses drawn from diverse sectors including education, health, environment, agribusiness, and clean energy. These investments, totaling $35,000 in working capital, have enabled women entrepreneurs to kick-start their ventures and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

In addition to KCEO, Joshwa has been hired by I have specifically previously been hired by Sinapis, Practical Action, and Red Cross to support a Youth-led social enterprises and startups.

Michael Rohrbaugh is screenwriter, director, producer, editor, and educator with over twenty years of professional experience. Within these roles, he has created a host of long and short-form content, including features, television pilots, short films, concept trailers, commercials, and promos. His award-winning short film, 'American Male,' was produced by MTV Networks and named by Vimeo as a ‘Staff Pick of the Month.’ His ‘Evolve the Definition’ campaign for the retail brand Bonobos won a Silver Clio Award and received over 11 million views. 

Rohrbaugh’s clients include SundanceNow, Bravo, The Audience Network, SONY, Disney, MTV Networks, and The Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN). His work has been featured in Forbes Magazine, Indiewire, National Public Radio, USA Today, The Advocate, and many other outlets. It can be found at: michaelrohrbaugh.com

Rohrbaugh received his Bachelor in Fine Arts from Yale University and his Master in Fine Arts from The UCLA School of Theater, Film, and Television. He currently teaches filmmaking at Arizona State University. He also manages a slate of television and feature film projects, and is pre-production for an original sci-fi feature scheduled to shoot in the summer of 2025. Rohrbaugh is repped for film/television writing and directing by William Morris Endeavor and Heroes & Villains Entertainment.

A MESSAGE FROM TOM NGARI, ONE OF OUR WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS AND MICHAEL'S FORMER STUDENT
My name is Thomas Ngari A.k.A cash. I'm an independent film maker and the founder of cashprodactions254. My journey in film began in high school (2013) when I attended A film workshop which was organized by Y-Africa. There I met our teacher, Micheal Rohrbaugh, who launched my journey as a filmmaker. Back then, I didn't know how much impact that workshop would have on my life. I fell in love with filmmaking and decided to pursue a career in film. I conquered many challenges and got myself into a Kenyan film school to expand my knowledge and understanding.

Ten years later, film puts food on my table and keep the lights on, the reason being I attended a film-workshop and got inspired by Micheal. For the last 5 years I have produced and written an online series called Magwangi, which means 'gangsters'. It is a crime mini-series, based on true events. It is about life in the slums, where young people fall into lives of crime without even knowing it. Bad decisions lead to more bad decisions, and, before they know it, they're in too deep.

My life changed because of the film-workshop that Michael led 10 years ago. So when he contacted me and told me he was hosting another in Kenya Kibera, I was so excited to be a part of it. I want to inspire others kids just the way I was inspired. And, who knows, film might change their lives too.

A MESSAGE FROM TWAAMBO MIYOBA, ONE OF OUR WORKSHOP INSTRUCTORS AND MICHAEL'S FORMER TEACHING ASSISTANT
For as long as I can remember, I've had a passion for filmmaking and watching movies. I knew that's what I wanted to do, so in primary school, I joined the drama club. After completing high school, I went to college where I studied 3D animation and filmmaking. After college, I joined a TV station as a camera operator and video editor. I have worked on a number of documentaries, films, and TV series. I'm always excited when working on different productions, because each brings its own challenges and rewards. I also love collaborating with other creatives, working with young filmmakers, and bringing my passion to the classroom.