The sky is blue, the fields are yellow- Kyiv interviews during war times
Interviews conducted in May 2022, three months after the attempted Russian invasion of Kyiv, during the making of the documentary film “The Sky is Blue, the Fields are Yellow."
Bosnia-Another dead end to Europe.
A report conducted in 2019 highlighted the situation of refugees stranded in Bosnia while attempting to find another entry point through the Bosnia/Croatia border into the EU.
Foreign Aid in Cambodia.
According to the Ministry of Social Affairs and the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), a total of 16,579 children live in 406 residential care institutions (RCIs), or orphanages. There have been many reports and crackdowns on these institutions being unhealthy for children forming attachment disorders. Although, two French organizations have come together to provide care to children and families in the living in the slums while making sure the humanitarian support they provide remain uncorrputed.
Since 2011, Ventimiglia have become a well known path where hundreds at a time struggle to get through in the hope to migrant further north. In November 2015, the French government decided to reintroduce border checks due to its state of emergency which led to closing the borders around the country. Since October 2016, The French Farmer, Cédric Herrou became active in obtaining migrant´s legal right to apply for asylum once on French ground.
Stranded in Greece (inside the military camps & beyond)
Many families who were living near the Greek/Macedonian border in the village of Idomeni are still stranded in Greece. As of the early summer of 2016, most have been relocated inside Greek military camps. All waiting for their registration process to go through, to legally further continue their journey through Europe. This was the case for the Al Ali family from Syria with 7 children and their extended family, who were inside the Softex military camp in the city of Thessaloniki.
The Calais jungle
As of September 2015, 3,500 migrants were living in deplorable conditions in a makeshift camp called 'The Calais Jungle' while attempting to reach England illegally. Due to the 2003 Touquet Agreement (which made Calais an official English border), England refuses any legal entries for the Calais migrants or to take full responsibility for the situation. As a result, France became primarily responsible for the migrants attempting to cross illegally. Fences were erected around the Calais highway, and French authorities used teargas to restrain migrants while forcefully demolishing parts of the camp. The Jungle camp went through several changes until its official evacuation in late November 2016, with a population that grew to 10,000. Some migrants succeeded in reaching England illegally, but for the majority of the Jungle's population, most were dispersed across France in the hope of eventually obtaining asylum.
Abdou´s life in The New Gambia-Part 1
The sun has rose on Freetown Gambia, an hour has past since the first call for the morning prayer was made from the local mosque. Abdou´s eyes are red, the night has not been enough rest to compensate for his previous long day educating a class of 48 children at the Freetown pre-school until mid-afternoon. For the younger generation following Abdou, born in the mid 90´s, it is the first time that they experience a new democratic president Adama barrow over a decade of authoritarian regime run by Yahya Jammeh.
Abdou´s life in The New Gambia- part 2
It has been over eight months since I have seen Abdou and his family. For this second trip, my mother wanted to join in order to assist and help with the needs of his family and the local community. Back in NY where she resides, she was able to raise 2200 dollars to take with us through her local African American christian church back in New York. By default, my mother and I have fell into the undeniable stereotype of “the white savior”: The two brave white people who come with all good intentions to fix the unfortunate poor living conditions of African families. Unfortunately, hearing about it or reading about it, can never come close enough to the personal experience.
Ukraine-IDP women of an unresolved conflict
Since shelling from the Ukraine & Russia conflict started in the summer of 2014, the number of IDPs have grown considerably. As of May 2016, The Ministry of Social Policy of Ukraine has registered over 1.7 million internally displaced persons (IDPs). On the northern coast of the Azov sea, lays a town named Berdyans´k where IDP women came together and created a public organisation. With 3,750 members involved, Balto was created on the 16th of November 2015, the main purpose is to support the IDP community by properly informing them of their rights and to provide basic needs.