Manly Manado stunning new Photographic documentary book puts 'Love in Action' to help make Poverty History
Manly-Manado, the community partnership between Manly in Sydney, Australia and Manado in East Indonesia, has been depicted through a series of photos in a stunning new book, titled ‘Love in Action’. All proceeds from the book are being donated to Manly-Manado, that works with local development partners, Bridge of Hope and Compassion, to help empower the people of Manado, Indonesia, to help themselves out of poverty.
Love in Action is a photographic documentary book with over 100 photographs that capture the inspiring story of a community taking action against poverty. All photographs were shot on location in Manado, Indonesia by photographer, Stuart Harris with stories by Jim Collins.
Manly-Manado is a community partnership between Manly in Sydney, Australia and Manado on the island of Sulawesi, East Indonesia. Manly-Manado is a local movement that empowers the people of Manly to personally take action against poverty using their passions and talents to tangibly benefit someone in Manado.
“Putting this book together was an amazing experience. I have been able to use my passion for photography to support social transformation,” said Mr Harris. “Through this book we are hoping to generate a broader awareness of the cause and we hope that people beyond Manly will get on board to help break the long-term cycle of poverty in other communities around the world. Sometimes we get overwhelmed with the scale of poverty in the world, but this is a tangible way that one community can support another.”
A book launch took place at the Novotel Manly Pacific in 2009. The event included speeches by distinguished guests including renowned landscape photographer Ken Duncan, who wrote the foreword to 'Love in Action', Member for Manly, Mike Baird MP, Councillor Jean Hay AM (Mayor), National Director of Compassion, Anne Knock, and the creator of Love in Action, Stuart Harris.
Commenting on the launch of the book, Ken Duncan said: “I have endeavoured to encourage Stuart to produce Love in Action – and to share the ideas behind Manly-Manado. My hope is that learning about this wonderful initiative may inspire people to see where they too could make a difference. In buying this book they will be helping to improve the lives of the people of Manado - the people in Stuart’s photos and Jim’s stories. I really do hope that this book will stimulate people to think about how they too can put love into action. For faith plus action has the power to overcome our fears – and change the world in the process.”
The book can be purchased online at www.loveinaction.com.au or at local Manly bookstores such as Humphreys News Agency Manly Corso.
Since its launch in 2005 Manly-Manado has seen over 13,000 people, 180 businesses, nine churches and six schools in Manly unite and get involved in over 120 community events and activities. The fruit of this combined action has benefited some 6,000 people in Manado through a myriad of development projects including 1,294 families being provided with micro loans and 210 children being sponsored.
Manly-Manado is dedicated to helping make poverty history. The United Nations Millennium Development Goals call for the halving of world poverty by 2015. Manly-Manado calls all Australians to help make poverty history through tangibly demonstrating love in action to others in need.
About Manly-Manado Community Partnership
Manly-Manado is a Christian-led community partnership between Manly in Sydney, Australia and Manado on the Island of Sulawesi, East Indonesia. Manly-Manado exists to help transform lives out of the mutual poverty that exists within both communities. It empowers people to personally take action against poverty using their passions and talents and tangibly affect someone in a specific community.
For more information go to http://www.manly-manado.org.au
About Stuart Harris, 'Love In Action' Photographer for Manly-Manado
Over the past fifteen years, Stuart has walked a corporate career path, but his real love is photography. Love in Action is the fulfilment of a long-held dream – using his photography to make a difference in the lives of others. Stuart lives in Manly with his wife Jeanette and young son Samuel.
About Jim Collins Manly-Manado Founder
Five years ago Jim left a financial services career to retain as a Christian communicator. He now works as a Pastor at a local church and is a social justice writer. Jim lives with his wife Cathy and daughter Sarah, in Manly.