Ghana Health and Education Initiative (GHEI)

Short-documentary about the work of GHEI, a Ghanaian non-profit organization focused on building a sustainable future for the people of Ghana through community-based health and education projects.

People of Change – Ghana Health and Education Initiative (GHEI) from Fernando Sapelli on Vimeo.

Yearend

Yearends are allegedly a suitable period to reminisce and prophesize. We base our time according to hours, days, months, decades. Time never ends; yet, we need conclusions, we need to pace our lives. Achievements and failures all fall into this mindful schedule. Yearend after yearend, calendar pages must be turned. Memories permit the transition, inevitably bringing yet another set of discoveries.

The video from Ghana is finalized. I am currently waiting on the organization’s feedback to make the proper final changes before publishing online. Apart from that, translations are needed to finish the other videos (Burundi, Sri Lanka and Indonesia). Thus, the remaining time could be used to reminisce about personal experiences, lessons learned and insightful recommendations. Because of the project’s content, this entire year has been well documented; and any attempt to reminisce would signify a complete repetition of words. Perhaps time itself will weight the significance of these memories.

Some fun facts can be spared though. Throughout this entire year, 23 different airports were visited – an average of 2 per month. Besides airplanes, all other forms of public transportation were utilized during the process (from long walks to ambulance rides). Over 1,500 minutes of video footage was filmed, more than 4,000 pictures were taken and 50,000 words were written – enough documentation to certify the productiveness of 365 days and nights spent in over 60 distinct beds.

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Staring At Clouds

Cannot blame on people, neither myself; this time around, technology imposed an unforeseen obstacle. The computer used to edit all videos crashed due to a chronic “kernel panic” symptom. Telephone diagnoses and email suggestions, details are mere hypothesis; two weeks since it was first taken in for repair, recovery has yet to be attained. Without technology, we are left staring at clouds.

Airport Sightings

Airports still fascinate me. People united under one common goal: travel. Some returning to familiar destinations, others bound to explore new territories. Airports represent the journey’s beginning and end; yet, it is neither the end nor the beginning. It’s the transition point – every travelers’ limbo – between here and there. Groups are narrowed down during boarding time, and eventually divided into proximate sections (almost too proximate). A conversation might result or, depending on the current state-of-mind, sleep might assure an easy route. After landing, another airport will reception the group, eventually splitting apart and pursuing individual destinations.

I first flew when I was eight years old. Back then, the actual highlight was the idea of flying as opposed to being stranded in an airport. Waiting amidst an adult playground seemed awful, but flying through white fluffy clouds compensated the wait. As we grow however, we realize clouds are nothing like cotton candy and no one can see you through the small round windows (no matter how much you wave). It might also have something to do with airplane seats becoming too small to comfortably accommodate any adult body. Airports offer space, options, possibilities.

The most remarkable thing about airports regards the rapid encounter with random people; eye stares, accidental bumps, quick sightings, and probable never-again encounters. Crowd watch is one personal favorite pastime; inevitably, some faces standout amidst the crowd. Some standout to memorizing standards, and believe it or not, I have seen memorized airport faces outside of such habitat – a week or two later – and I could still associate that face to the specific time and place. I even considered approaching the person.

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Anatomy of Opportunities

Buddhist philosophy claims we have complete control over the self. In fact, the basic idea of “self,” commonly thought of as the “soul” does not exist in the philosophy. Being brought up under different beliefs, the claim does come as a clash. The reluctance to entirely accept such principle has at its core two basic beliefs.

I believe in the existence of greater forces. Call it the power of the universe if you will, but once an idea is throw out there, a response usually follows – in some way or another. If anything, the complete denial of the self would signify a direct hit against this conception. In the same manner we credit outside forces for our success, we blame it for our fails. This is not to say Buddhism completely denies the existence of such forces, but it clearly states that individuals, as a combination of all sensorial experiences, are in complete control of cause and consequence. Didn’t get the job? Some choose to remain optimistic and blame it on the ever-culpable fate; others might personally take responsibility for the fail.

For one second, image body and self as separate entities. To do so, is to believe in the existence of a great being – a soul. Now, imagine the physical body as a simple cause and effect generated by the sixth sensorial experience – the brain. What do you get?

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Elephant – Human Relations Aid (EHRA)

Short-documentary about the work of Elephant – Human Relations Aid (EHRA), a Namibian non-profit organization aimed to facilitate the peaceful co-habitation between subsistence farmers, community members and the desert adapted elephants in the region.

People of Change – Elephant Human Relations Aid from Fernando Sapelli on Vimeo.