Notes on a project pt.1

Travelling through South America gave me a lot to think. I saw much poverty and hardship of life, witnessed some very harsh realities. Often unimaginable to a well established European or American, who closes his eyes on the problems and opens them for the sights. There are big problems everywhere, wherever you go. The western world is no less troubled and ridden with problems, but often of a different nature. And what good it would be if the developing countries would go the same way? Most of them are aware of that and don't want it.

But there are solutions. On board of a shaky bus, somewhere in northern Peru, I thought this : some of us are lucky. We travel, we buy plasma TV's, eat fruit from the other side of the world, we blame our troubles on our governments. We have a lot more then we really need. We succumb by circles of wanting, craving and attachment that makes our life more stressful, hectic and materialstic. But compassion and stepping out of this circle, realizing our privileged state, our power to change and using all this to help those in need, gives us something that fills us innerly more surely then things like pleasure, power or money. This how I think people can help each other. Money is just a resource and although it's an important part of this project it is not the most important one. People need to share their knowledge, compassion, fill each other with courage and joy of life, and prepare children for life, prepare them for something that we all are responsible for.

This, más o menos is the philosophy behind what I'm doing, as much for others as for myself.

I'm still thinking about the form of the exhibitions - the concept for now is to combine photography and information about San Roque de Cumbaza, the region of San Martin in Peru and what the people there went through in last decades - something that I was completely ignorant of before my trip. That is of course not the point - there is much suffering in the world that we can't be aware of. The point is - when you see it, and you can do something about it - do it.

The first steps that I'm taking are legalizing it all, as I would like this to be just the start for such projects. So, instead of rambling away here I'm off to do some research and start giving this project some momentum !

Ciao!:)

The Beginning

While we were travelling around South America, we spent a month in San Roque de Cumbaza, a small village behind Tarapoto in Peru, just a tiny spot of no bother on your helpfull google maps. We met there people from around the world, drawn to this spot of strange magnetism for gringos and Peruvians alike. We chatted with the locals and played with the kids. We listened to the night song of the jungle and watched the farmers rise with the sun and go to the chacras with their machetes. We met people of goodwill and compassion, who spend their free time helping others and trying to improve the world around them. And we felt, we should too. The visions rose quickly but the plans took time. We started taking photos and we hired some little helpers. My cumbersome Olympus landed in the hands 8-9 year old photographers taking in the world of colour around them. These photos travelled now back with me 20000 km back to Europe and they are in front of me - all colour, shape and light of the children of San Roque. Now begins the next step. We want to exhibit these photos and fundraise for our friends in the Amazon jungle. How do we do that? Here comes the essence of this blog - it will document our progress to exhibiting these photos, raising the money and showing where they exactly will go and what will they do.

It took me quite long look to set up this blog. Looking for a new job, moving house and settling back down in London all takes a bit of time. But what travelling taught me is that if you have the capeability and time to help, then there is no reason not to do so.

If there is anything you would add to this project (experience!) don't hesitate to contact me. The progress might be slow – but eventually, we will get there.