Bureaucracy is not represented by the system; the people determining the system represent it. Every system, be it public or private, is created and modified with the intention of resolving matters. Yet, no system is one-sided. It always represents the view of its creators. Depending on the creators’ perspective, no human attempt to fix or improve it is possible.

That’s the bad thing about bureaucracy in Brazil: those at the top organize the structure, while the great majority below has no say in it. That’s the normal way in every democracy: the people elect its leaders to determine the system. Yet, leaders here are not good creators. They are very good at getting by, improvising, modifying to their own interests.

As a consequence, the system takes time to adapt to changes, tendencies, real needs. The labyrinth of laws, policies, organizations is so complex that even well-intended “creators” may get in the way of others well-intended makers. The system as a whole has flaws and it’s slow. It’s not connected across the entire nation. There are only patches working here and there, some more effective than others.

There’s no doubt the economy continues to boom. Statistics prove it. People say it. And yes, there is a lot of money being generated, which signifies even more money for all the system makers. There should be solutions by now. Rather, the improvement should have been a lot more significant. We are just a couple years away from gigantic events such as the World Cup, and the system still hasn’t found a solution for transportation problems, behind schedule constructions and unclear plans. Well, obviously, the system can’t find the solution on its own.

Answering the question above, no, no system is above human decisions. But that’s precisely what the population has seemed to forget. We are our own creators.

Brazil is a giant full of natural resources up its sleeves – some already explored, others waiting to be discovered. Despite such richness, the wealth is unequally distributed among the population. The country lacks basic infrastructure from North to South. In its major urban areas, development and underdevelopment stay side to side. In its not so privileged parts, basic sanitation stands far from reaching its inhabitants.

With the announcement of the World Cup in 2014, and the Olympic Games in 2016, the entire population has high hopes of change. Yet, airports, federal highways, public transportation, overall improvements and a sustainable growth stand motionless, almost forgotten amidst these promises. Brazilians look too much into the future and forget to preserve what’s already built and established.

And in this eternal reconstruction of promises, the infrastructure remains unaltered.

Bureaucracy to come.

Over and over again, I’ve talked about social change and social development. Now that I’ve momentarily settled in Brazil it’s only fair I contextualize these concepts to my current perceptions. Just to be clear, I am not a pessimist, neither an overtly optimist. When it comes to reality, I rather stick with reason. There’s a full dose of optimism living within my dreams, but dreams are personal interpretations of reality. Among yours and mine, there’s a void filled with real essence.

“Brazil is not the country of tomorrow; it’s the country of today.” That’s what you hear all around and the optimism really ends up filling anyone’s hopes. Much has been changed and improved, and for someone who’s been away for more than eight years these improvements are indeed noticeable. Despite financial crises in the first world sphere, the local economy experiences growth, and opportunities flourish for those who are fortunate to be included within the group that has taken advantage of the situation and found their progress.

But then again, what’s the definition of progress? Is it calculated in numbers and pie charts? I’m not an economist but calculations point to a financial surplus. Is it defined by comparison? What’s the standard? I’m not a sociologist but several other places are in a far worse situation than Brazil. Is it interpreted through personal expectations? If so, I have mine. Some have been met and several have yet to be reached. My definition of progress: communal development. I’m not referring to socialism, communism or any other political ideology. I’m simply suggesting that progress is when development positively changes the entire society.

Not the case in Brazil. Three closely connected attributes have yet to reach the expected standards. Here’s a discussion on culture, bureaucracy and infrastructure.

Culture

Brazilians are lively and social by nature; yet, cultural patterns are not strictly defined around these two qualities. Despite the collective culture, the country lacks a communal sense of progress. In several other places I’ve visited, communities worked together to assure a hands-on involvement in the country’s progress. I remember in Burundi, Africa, all public roads would close for certain hours on Sundays and the entire country population had to come out and repair them. The concept is a bit far fetched for a country like Brazil. Differently from Burundi though, there’s no such commitment, and the feeling I get is that here progress signifies individual betterment.

It says on the flag “Order and Progress.” Order was not placed before Progress by chance: you need order to achieve progress. Although change and development are two different things, one is entirely dependent on the other. The quality of life has improved, crime rates have been reduced, urbanization has grown exponentially. The culture however, hasn’t developed accordingly.

Culture might not be the right choice of word. The concept has a lot more to do with education than culture itself but if we contextualize culture in a time spam of 1000, 2000 or even 5000 years, one would clearly say that it has developed along with social and political changes. Even though we are reluctant to adjust our traditions, beliefs, customs, these changes come naturally (and much more drastically as new technologies and realities become part of our lives).

One major change brought by this so-called progress is in the purchasing power and overall prices in Brazil. Anyone living or visiting major urban areas has noticed that costs are incredibly higher than most other places. Even though prices haven’t always been this inflated, through time the culture has developed ways to avoid paying these extra costs (the well known “jeitinho Brasileiro”) – with the major consequence of creating informal economies.

Let’s take an example: parking. Many cities don’t offer decent infrastructures (we’ll get there eventually) of public parking. If you want to park in a privately owned area, the fees are unjustifiable. One of these days I decided to beat the system and trust my car into the hands of a guy who would take care of it and find public parking for you. In other words, you would pay someone to park on the streets. Something like an informal valet service. He had his fixed price and he wouldn’t negotiate since he knew he was the cheaper alternative for anyone who wanted to park in the area. Part of the deal was to leave the keys with him and after finding parking, he would bring the keys back to where I was. One day, I returned before the accorded time, and to my (and his) surprise, I caught him stealing gas from my tank.

One bad seed perhaps; but in the same way I tried to find a way out, he found his.

In Brazil, most of what’s “free” has been taken away. To park on the streets (even when there’s a meter), you usually have to informally pay a person to take care of your car. If you don’t, you run the risk of having it damaged. Public transportation has much to be improved. Tool roads are more common than public highways. Although there’s universal health care, you’re better off with health insurance and the private system. Primary public education is precarious. And on top of all that, Brazil charges the highest taxes on Earth. So, when you have the highest living costs, you naturally start to have expectations. And when these are not met, people start to find ways to beat the system. To win, someone has to loose. And when particular individuals win, society as a whole looses together.

This is not to say there aren’t engaged Brazilians. Far from that. The few bad seeds that individualistically take advantage of the system however perpetuate and continue a cultural tradition that threatens the order and progress of the country.

My solution: I gave up on driving. I only take public transportation. Yet everyday, I have to carefully watch my back as someone might try to climb on it and take my wallet and belongings along the process. At least, I’m aware it’s the local reality.

Bureaucracy and Infrastructure to come.

We are happy to announce that we are taking the project through a new route. Instead of solely focusing on the production of original content, we will also be curators for outside material that carries similar content. Due to other commitments, the trio of time, money and work has unbalanced our structure; but most importantly, the will strongly continues.

Original content will still be produced and personal perspectives will continue to be shared. However, the platform will also be utilized to share similar ideas and echo similar voices. In a recent post published at the Spain Revolution’s website, I concluded saying that “similarly to the 15M movement, these people [of change], you and me, want change above all things. And along such quest for change, we have found solutions. But because few do not desire these solutions and changes, we remain unheard. Let us combine efforts and raise one common voice. Louder than anything we’ve heard before.”

If before the claim for People of Change was “A Journey for the Difference,” a new one had to be made in order to incorporate these new ideals. Even though we are all riding similar journeys, the old claim did sound more like a one man’s quest; hence, “People of Change: Global Solutions” was adopted. We are all well aware of the problems presented on a daily basis by mainstream media outlets.  One disaster after another, and problems still persist. Instead of drawbacks, troubled lives and death counts, let us present solutions!

New outside material will be published under “Contributors,” since we are all contributing to attain these changes. If you have any suggestions and want to collaborate, feel free to contact us!

The beauty of new technologies is the precise unification of interests and forces. People can easily communicate across the world and share similar experiences; it can be a learning tool for those willing to learn. Federica Romeo from Cineastas en Acción (Filmmakers in Action) contacted me through Twitter almost a month ago, while she was in Senegal providing film workshops to local children and teens. Since we shared so much in common, her project immediately caught my attention, and although I usually document the work of other NGOs through People of Change’s perspective, I thought it would be wiser to have Federica share her own words.

Below you can find the article written in SPANISH by Federica Romeo, president of Cineastas en Acción, and translated to ENGLISH by People of Change.

ENGLISH
My name is Federica Romeo and I represent the Cineastas en Acción (Filmmakers in Action), an NGO that promotes the cultural exchange between Africa and Spain through filmmaking.

During the past month of August, we made our first project, some audiovisual workshops in Casamanca, South of Senegal. Eli, a Senegalese boy from Salamanca gave the video workshop to 15 students, who were between 13 and 17 years old. Lucia, an ex-student at the University Complutense de Madrid, provided the photography workshop to 17 students between 7 and 12 years of age, and also the drawing workshop, with kids who were up to 5 years old. The number varied day after day.

The great majority of students had never used any camera before; at first, they were very timid, but after the first week, they were seduced by the technology and full of energy to keep learning. And the truth is they learned very fast; so fast that the results were surprisingly good.

Now, we are thinking about organizing an exposition with the works accomplished by the students: photographies and a documentary that will travel all across Spain, teaching the Spanish population the results of our work and in a way, we expect to obtain enough funding for further workshops in 2012.

Our NGO promotes the cultural exchange through filmmaking and audiovisual; we believe that education is the best manner to stop prejudices and promote tolerance and peace.

For more information, visit our blog.

SPANISH
Mi nombre es Federica Romeo y represento a Cineastas en Acción, una ONG que promueve el intercambio cultural entre África y España a través del cine.

El pasado mes de agosto, llevamos a cabo nuestro primer proyecto, unos talleres audiovisuals en la Casamance, al sur de Senegal. Eli, un chico senegalés originario de la Casamance, impartió el taller de video, a unos 15 alumnos de entre 13 y 17 años. Lucia, una ex alumna de la Complutense de Madrid, impartió el de foto a unos 17 alumnos de entre 7 y 12 años y yo el de dibujo, con los más pequeños, de entre 3 y 5 y cuyo número variaba cada día.

La mayoría de los alumnos no habían manejado nunca ninguna cámara; al principio se mostraban muy tímidos, pero a partir de la primera semana se les veía ilusionados y llenos de ganas de aprender. Y la verdad es que ¡aprendieron muy rápido! Tan rápido, que los resultados fueron sorprendentemente buenos.

Ahora estamos pensando en organizar una muestra itinerante con los trabajos realizados por los alumnos: fotografías y un documental que viajarán por toda España enseñando al público español los resultados de nuestro trabajo y una manera, esperamos, para conseguir los fondos para los talleres del 2012.

Nuestra ONG promueve el intercambio cultural a través del cine y del audiovisual; creemos que la educación es la mejor manera para borrar prejuicios y favorecer la tolerancia y la paz.

Visita nuestro blog.

After almost a month of exchanging emails and debating possible topics for an opening article, I can proudly say we are now also contributing to Global Voices. For those who are not familiar with the website, Global Voices is an international community of bloggers who report on blogs and citizen media from around the world. The website’s content  is translated into more than 30 languages by volunteer translators, making it a truly remarkable online platform for those seeking news outside the mainstream channels; news entirely created and edited by the people. No agendas, propaganda or second intentions.

For native Portuguese speakers, the good news is that these articles will be available in both English and Portuguese. Just because we are contributing to Global Voices, it doesn’t mean People of Change will not be updated. There’s still plenty of material to be released, and most importantly, many thoughts to be shared.

To read the article, just click on your preferred language option: English or Portuguese.
If you want to follow published posts, please visit the profile page.

A few months back, while visiting a national park in Brazil, I decided to do a demanding hike, which eventually led to a climb up a steep mountain. The trail is often listed as one of the most difficult in Brazil; consequentially, you’re not allowed to do it on your own without prior authorization or help from a guide. I decided to break the rules and do my own trail. I lied at the entrance gate saying I was only doing the most basic hike within the park. The officers granted permission and so I went.

The mountain is the fifth highest point in Brazil – not that high when compared to other mountains but still very rocky and challenging. Due to its proximity to the ocean, the mountain range blocks all humidity coming from the coast; upon contact, this humidity is pushed up all the way to the summit, transforming into dense clouds along the process. Because of this phenomenon, and depending on the wind, the weather can change within the blink of an eye.

I was one of the very last people to enter the park. Most of the visitors had already left once I started my hike (normal people start in the morning, whereas I chose to start in the afternoon). It was a chilly weekend and the clear skies were not sufficient to warm away the cold sensation (nearing 5 degrees Celsius). Before starting the hike however, I did decide to do the easier one as a warm up. By the time I started the official hike, it was already three hours past midday and I believed I could get back just before sunset.

Along the way, I walked by several people already on their way back (all with their guides and tired faces). Since I was aware of time restrictions, I sped up and did what I like to call “riking” – a combination of running and hiking. By the time I got to the climbing part, I walked by the last group of people heading back to camping grounds.

The few signs that marked the way along the first few miles ceased to exist once I got to more rocky areas. The only thing people had told me in advance is that I would get to a point in which I would have to jump from one rock to another, right at the summit of the mountain. It wasn’t an easy jump; guides usually carried climbing ropes, pulleys, ascenders and all the required material. I only had a backpack filled with fried banana chips, an almost empty water bottle, a notebook and a photo camera.

I knew I was running out of time so I just continued with the plan: I would find my own trail and I would eventually get to the summit. At some point, the very top of the mountain divided the trail into two paths – either right or left. I chose left. It took about thirty minutes to realize I had taken the wrong direction since I could no longer move forward. I could see the crest of the mountain right besides me, yet there was no way to reach the upper part. The only solution was to climb down to the bifurcation area and choose the right path. Though, as I started heading back, the weather suddenly changed. It was already 4:30 in the afternoon and sunset was just a couple of hours away.

Dense clouds completely blocked my view and a cold shiver immediately ran down my spine. I froze and waited for a few seconds hoping that the clouds were just passing by. The wait prolonged and the body started to get cold. I couldn’t remain static; I had to find my way back. The fact that these rocks bordered a 2.000-meter fall did not help conquering any fears. I used my entire body attempting to find the right trail but I knew I was moving too slow – and the cold sensation just got worse as the sun approached the horizon.

I yelled. I shouted as high as I could. I called for help but no one could hear me. For one second, I regretted; I just wanted to get back. Deep inside, I knew I couldn’t give up; I had to find my own way. And so I continued. Step by step; rock by rock. Some false leads; some steps back. I felt blind and without direction. I was desperate inside but I couldn’t let the feeling take over.

I shouted again. No response. I felt betrayed by own self. But suddenly, just like an immediate granted wish, the clouds started to move and the view got brighter. I could sense sunrays cutting through and I could finally see a lead again. The intense white gave way to shades of greens, blues and grays. I knew where I was and I could see the climb down. I had walked even closer to the edge but there were different paths ahead waiting for me.

I climbed down, still feeling insecure that the weather could change at any moment. I walked fast; I didn’t have time to look back. I safely arrived at the lower trail just before the last sunrays crossed the horizon. The sight was impressive – a true privileged position. Running out of breath, I stopped to let the moment sink in. I was the last one to leave the park that day, and as I walked out, the officer asked me why it took me so long to finish the easiest trail. “I was out of sight.”

It wasn’t until a few weeks ago that this moment came back to me. Because of a sickness, I just recently went through a period during which I felt in the precise same way: alone, helpless and fragile. Looking back now, I ask myself if I learned anything. Truth be told, not a whole lot. I still want to go back to that mountain, redo the trail and conquer the summit.

What I did realize though is that it won’t be less rewarding or commendable if I trust my fate to someone who already knows the trail. Just as important as discovering news paths on your own, are the people you choose to carry along. Those rocks were new grounds to me; yet, several others do the same route day after day. They have the experience to lead you to the summit. It is your responsibility however, to make it your own journey – and hopefully find a new sight along the way.

Four months ago, when I was invited to participate at eSTAS (Symposium on Technologies for Social Action) hosted by Fundacion Cibervoluntarios in Malaga, I felt dubious about how I was going to approach the subject of change within a technological context. The topic of this year’s edition was “Innovation for citizen empowerment through new technologies” – quite a powerful statement. Should I input my own personal experience or focus on those that I encountered through the project? Should I talk about my filming experience or how others reacted upon seeing the technology for the first time? Despite the questions, I was certain I wanted to participate.

The event united several minds working on different fronts, including Lina Ben Mhenni, winner of the BOBs award for Best Blog in 2011, in which she denounces injustice and government censhorship in Tunisia; Judith Torrea, winner of the Reporters Without Borders at the BOBs award 2011 for her blog “Juarez en La Sombra,” revealing drug related crimes in Ciudad Juarez, Mexico; and Chris Moya, founder of Spainrevolution.com, a free online platform for citizens to discuss the social and political 15M movement, which started amidst the current financial crisis in Spain. Differently from most of these speakers though, I came from a film and media background. I am not an activist. But since technology doesn’t limit itself to the Internet, the information acquired through People of Change became relevant within the context of change.

Change itself is a complex term to define. In a previous post, I talked about the difference between social development and social change. In the prospect of change, one must assume a differentiation occurs (either progressive or regressive) through time; “social” characterizes the type of change: behaviors, traditions, and beliefs. Social development on the other hand, possesses the physicality of indication: buildings, schools, and new technologies – an increased utilization of human resources through time. Social development affects social change, as well as social change influences social development.

Same principle applies to the Internet. The technology has caused social change since its inception. From consumerism patterns to increased connectivity, we have found new global patterns. And as a global tool, we are evolving together. Some countries indeed have a greater participation than others but if once we were stuck to regional television programming or local news, now a person in Spain can easily watch a live video in India as someone in Australia can access local news in Mexico. Differently from other forms of media though, the Internet is the most democratic. For the first time we have the opportunity to be part of media through user-generated content. Television and magazines and even films present an unalterable content to viewers and readers. It’s a one-way relation: here’s what we want you to see. Certainly, some networks and media conglomerates are now utilizing online resources to provide an “inclusive experience;” ultimately, there’s usually an editor deciding what will make the cut and what won’t.

With online media, you can be your own editor. Theoretically, anyone can input personal perspectives, define preferences and publish self-made content. Yet, with such increased participation, comes responsibilities. For those connected on the web, we’ve become Internet citizens – one common global language (with certain restrictions and variations here and there) ultimately uniting all users. And as mere observers or active participants, we have different ways of exercising our rights and duties. Perhaps, our single most important duty is the creation of an overall consciousness that can steer change. The Internet (and all other forms of technology) if put to good use, has an immense potential. And I’m not simply talking about updating your Facebook status or stalking your friends online, or even becoming a world-class hacker. I’m referring to a positive social change: an increased number of citizens engaged with relevant causes and matters.

Putting restrictions and censorships aside, there’s an extensive array of information and content readily available on the Internet. Such information could definitely be used towards these positive changes. As Ayn Rand says in The Nature of Government, “the two great values to be gained from social existence are: knowledge and trade. Man is the only species that can transmit and expand his store of knowledge from generation to generation; the knowledge potentially available to man is greater than any one man could begin to acquire in his own lifespan; (…) The second great benefit is the division of labor: it enables a man to devote his effort to a particular field of work and to trade with others who specialize in other fields.” Hence, with the global reach of the Internet comes the responsibility of defining and trading the relevant knowledge – what truly matters for the sake of change. Yet, for a great portion of users, the Internet austerely equals entertainment. Despite the drastic differences between other forms of media, we can clearly see patterns of how the Internet is currently being used; and it doesn’t differ that greatly from other forms. There’s nothing wrong with our right of entertainment, as long as we are also exercising our duties as empowered citizens. The imperative question then becomes how to transform the overall consciousness and cause change in all its potential?

Some say we need to change our communal consciousness if we want to see positive changes in our society. Maybe this is the answer. As the Internet starts reaching other parts of the globe, we are adding individual minds to this communal network. With a greater outreach, the opportunity to properly educate citizens becomes a reality. This increased social development can indeed be turned into a positive social change; whether we eventually choose to fully exercise our rights, we must at least know our responsibility.

I came to Spain not knowing what to expect. During the course of the event, as I prepared for my interview and listened to other speakers, one sudden realization came to mind: what’s the use of technology if not exercised in an imperative way? More than myself contributing to providing an answer, all participants and speakers contributed to my own personal search. I leave Spain with several answers and a great will to continue this work. Not necessarily People of Change, but mostly exercising my potential as an empowered Internet citizen.

Text published on “Innovacion Para El Empoderamiento Ciudadano Atraves de las TIC” http://www.empodera.org/pdf/libro.pdf

In an effort to document the work of non-governmental organizations dedicated to humanitarian, social and environmental causes, I recently traveled through sixteen different countries during a period of eight months. From South America to Europe, Africa to Asia, the constant cultural and economical changes faced along the journey determined the always evolving content of the independent and volunteer project, properly titled People of Change.

The core mission of People of Change regards the creation of short-documentaries for selected organizations, which ultimately strive for the betterment of their communities through positive changes; and have yet to obtain a global voice and recognition. In such connected modern world, online media plays a determining role in the diffusion of these efforts. The viral distribution of the videos permits increased visibility – essential to the survival of any nonprofit struggle since it brings funding, volunteers and eventual growth. People of Change focuses on the constructive use of new technologies to propagate and inspire other people to advocate similar work. Newspapers, magazines and television are often filled with pessimistic ideas of our current global situation. The reasons behind this thrust were indeed rooted in our current perception of the world; or rather, our current perception of the world constructed by mainstream media. We need inspiration, and not desolation.

The experiences and most importantly, the people encountered along the journey were enough inspiration to continue the quest despite all difficulties. These were people who embrace change wholeheartedly, people of change. Amidst so many of them, it became impossible to remain unaltered. I know I have changed in several positive ways; but as far as making a change and changing other people’s lives, that is a bit more complex. In one side of the spectrum we have those (including myself) who enjoy the benefits of our modern world; on the other side, we encounter those who stand motionless waiting for their change. In between, a 25-kilometer walk

The Burundi Experience
Filming in remote places has uncountable benefits; yet, the experience also presents significant challenges. Burundi, also known as the “heart of Africa,” was one of these countries. Commonly listed as one of the poorest countries in the world, such classification comes with a reason; indeed, the lack of basic infrastructure is evident from the moment of arrival. I was there to document the work of eight nuns living in the remote village of Masango. They have been receiving monetary aid from an Italian Rotary branch to continue their work and within ten years of continuous efforts they have already built a hospital and an orphanage, which currently houses 40 children. To simplify challenges, I will focus solely on the technological factor.

Most of the older local population is rather suspicious of any foreigner, especially one carrying a video camera. They are not accustomed to the technology; hence, devious eyes and angry shouting are some of the reactions obtained. Obviously, boundaries should not be crossed and their wishes (although never fully expressed) further respected. An opposite reaction developed within the younger population – curiosity. As I walked through the village carrying the equipment, a group of children and teens would march right behind me, hoping and wishing to be filmed. In fact, they would run out of their classrooms (causing their teachers to yell at me) just so they could be in close proximity to the equipment. The community had never been acquainted with a video camera; thus, kids often surrounded the perimeters of the tripod, transforming any movement into a challenge.

The only way to gain their trust was to transfer power onto their hands. I could not afford the risk of allowing an entire village to experience an expensive piece of equipment, but I did have a spare camera that could be shared. As a result, a photography workshop was provided within the first few days. Aloys, the local English teacher, greatly helped me translating my words and finding 15 teenagers and young adults to participate. The sign up sheet filled rather quickly, although the people seemed rather uninterested in photography. I could not discern expectations and prospects.

The day after, there were over 40 people waiting outside the classroom – and refusal was not an option. Several of these students came expecting to receive some sort of material or monetary reward; yet, even after clarifying the true intentions, people still lingered.

The workshop started with an introduction to photography, followed by a basic introduction to the theory of photography: zoom, lenses, color scheme and so on. It wasn’t until the practical segment started that I realized I had forgotten to teach the most basic thing: how to hold a camera. No one had ever touched one before and their shaky hands gave away signs of excitement and anxiety. For most of us, the technological expertise just comes naturally from the surroundings; for the people of Masango, it remains a distant reality.

The differences between Burundi and other developed nations are great. The population struggles on a daily basis only to live for the next day in the hopes of achieving progress and change. In providing such training, certain issues arise. If a film camera were to be awarded to the community, there would be further costs in buying photographic film and developing the pictures. A digital camera however, would require a computer – and only one person owns a computer in the entire village: the priest. Such instruction would inevitably become obsolete within a short period. As a firm believer that knowledge is power, a digital camera was donated and the only people allowed to use it were the ones who attended the workshop; thus, the acquired knowledge provided an advantage over the entire community – and further allowed me to gain their trust.

The Lengthy Walk
After the workshop, a young sympathetic adult, who seemed to be impatient throughout the entire workshop, approached and asked me for a favor. In my mind, I thought I had been clear from the start there was only so much I could provide. However, he wanted me to record some of his songs and put into a CD so he could listen to his music at home. He did not own a stereo but someone else did. Fair enough. His artistic name was John Bolstone and as soon as he grabbed his guitar and started playing, I couldn’t refuse. He was definitely talented and as the others began chanting along, I experienced one moment of true change.

We ended up recording 8 of his songs in the course of three days. During my entire stay in the village I was housed at the convent, centrally located in Masango. The population would often walk long miles to reach its close proximities, which included the public schools, the hospital and the church. John Bolstone was one of them: his house was located 10-kilometers away, and he would cover that distance on a daily basis in the hopes that I would have some spare time to continue recording his songs. At the end of everyday, I would find him sitting with his guitar, along with his followers, by the convent’s entrance.

Except for DVDs, I didn’t carry any other form of discs with me. I tried to explain that DVDs would not play on that stereo but he didn’t seem to understand the difference between a DVD and a CD. After burning him the disc, I wrote the word “computer” on top of it. Next day, he came back realizing that the disc would not play on the stereo. He did eventually realize that he needed a computer to play the DVD, and he asked if I could help. This time around, I had to refuse. Soon after, one of his friends said he knew someone who owned a computer and had Internet as well. Only problem, the person lived 25-kilometers away; and in Masango, transportation is a two-legged word.

Before I left, I gave him my card with my email address and also promised to post his videos online so people could listen to his music. Having checked my emails on a daily basis, I never thought I would ever hear back from him. All my email accounts are forwarded to one main account – the only one I regularly check. Recently, I decided to go through the other accounts to organize and delete some old emails. As I was going through one of them, I found an email from John Bolstone, sent over six months ago. For some unknown reason, it wasn’t forwarded to my other account, and like an empty thought it just lingered there. My first reaction, “25 kilometers.” He wanted to know if anyone had heard his music and what people thought of it. I felt guilty for not taking the time to go through my other accounts, located 5 mouse clicks and a few characters away. I immediately replied and explained that as promised, his videos were online and everybody loved his performance.

All in all, that lengthy walk represents the actual challenge of change; it’s extensive, arduous and slow. While the developed world continues to pursue new technologies at a fast and growing pace, the remaining countries stay behind. It would be nonsense after all, to expect from the people of Masango to have easy access to a computer or even Internet, when they barely have food, electricity or any other basic commodity. It does show however, that similarly to John’s attitude, change requires time, persistence and inspiration.

25 kilometers: the gap between two contrasting realities. And as we stand on the other side of the cliff, I anxiously wait for John Bolstone’s reply.