It Takes a Team
On i-ACT 11 this past fall, I quickly learned that shooting video in a
refugee camp is a whole new ballgame when it comes to being behind a
camera. The most difficult aspect is that the kids are all so excited
about what we’re doing and all want a chance to smile and wave at the
camera. This makes capturing anyone speaking a very difficult task!
While I was shooting interviews with students one morning in Djabal,
there was a distinct lack of kids around. After awhile, I heard a
commotion behind me and turned to investigate. Miah was distracting
the kids so we could get our work done! This ended up being one of my
favorite moments from the trip.
Now that’s teamwork!
Darfur United Hopefuls Part 2
These two men want to play for Darfur United. They are unquestionably good soccer players. But what about their lives? How did these two talented young men end up in Camp Djabal in Eastern Chad? Listen to their story.
Rahma takes the Human Rights library to OBAMA School!
Hello my friends how are you? Here are a video of our team work with students of OBAMA school. We are working hard in our library program. Really the students are using the talking dictionaries and electrical books in good way. You can see this video.
-Your friend Rahma
Darfur United Colors
Gabriel asks some aspiring Darfur United players what uniform colors they’d like for the team. Rahma and Murtada reveal their bias towards some famous team colors. Watch to see further proof that football really is the world’s sport and you can find fans everywhere.
Seeds of Action
It has been amazing to be here to watch things fall into place. While here, I have paused as I am in awe about these serendipitous moments. I wrote yesterday about awareness, actions, and serendipity. Nothing serendipitous happens without action, and serendipity is never recognized until after the fact.
There is something magical about movement. As a drop in an ocean creates a ripple, an action causes a ripple effect. What has amazed me about this, is often times these action aren’t even really connected. They are actions happening on the opposite sides of the planet, yet in some mysterious way, they are very connected.
In Goz Beida we met Jairo. Jairo is a young man from Ecuador who became aware of a need in the camps, food. So what did he do? He packed a bag, took a year off, and came to Goz Beida to create a greenhouse that could be implemented in the camps so refugees can grow food year around. (Very inspiring, reminds me of another person who came out here six years ago when he saw a need – he is not quite as young though).
Back in California, Gabriel’s friend Azra had heard of the short rain season this year and her action to help was dropping off a bag of vegetable and herb seeds. Gabriel, not knowing exactly what he would do with them, put them in his suitcase. Then after meeting Jairo, he mentioned his big next stop is getting seeds to test. Suddenly, it all became very clear. Two people, from two different places created action, which somehow was all connected in order to provide better food for the refugees.
I was also amazed today as Yakoub said he has been out of the camps for the last few months and returned just last night. We also had the experience of Adam moving to Camp Djabal, moving there in time to help with the Human Rights library. All of these being perfect moments that happened to fall right into place.
Without action, things become stagnant. It is when we make movement that the universe and others can begin to move, bringing together a perfect symphony of actions that make real change in the world. Take that next step, make that next movement or action, no matter how small it may seem in the grand scheme, for it is a ripple that will create other ripples that soon becomes waves crashing upon a shore.
Jeremiah
i-ACT Team Travels
The team says goodbye to Camp Djabal and travels on.
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