I recently began work on a production for Orphans Africa. The project consists of interviews and some live event footage of a music event they were hosting. It was a wonderful experience given I know the musician (and have even had the pleasure of working for him!).
Dave Nachmanoff CD's at the Orphans Africa concert.
For those of you who do not know of him, I wish to provide a shameless plug for Dave Nachmanoff!
Orphans Africa is a non-profit organization that seeks to aid children in Africa - specifically Tanzania and its surrounding areas. From interviewing those who are involved with the organization one particular story stuck out to me as a point of valuable advise for anyone who passes a person in need of help. The story goes as follows...
Upon daybreak after a violent coastal storm a boy and his father strolled the beach in the morning light. Scattered across the beach where multitudes of sea-stars cast about the shore line - far enough from the water survival could not considered. Seeing this and without a second thought, the boy began running to and fro collecting the creatures and returning them to the water. Time after time the child would run from the wave crest back to the beach. The child’s father faintly asked “my child, surely you won’t be able to save all of them” to which the boy replied mid-stride “no, I can’t. But, I can save this one…and that one…and maybe even a few more if I try”.
What was striking about the story for me personally was its connection with the Orphans Africa project and their lack of fear in the face of “odds of success". Many (and indeed most) consider such tasks a useless endeavor, for of course - not all can be helped - and there’s the point. While not all can, some and indeed many can be. Orphans Africa as an organization lived out through its organizers is not afraid to stare into the void of not knowing the final impact of their work. Rather, they simply get to work in helping those that they can.
Take what you will from this story, I merely wanted to make note of it for your benefit. One of the rather enjoyable pleasures from interview type work is learning about other people - their work, life, and goals. Yes, sometimes people have a hard time opening up in front of camera - but when they do, more often than not those are the ones that teach me something.
Dave Nachmanoff performing at the Orphans Africa concert.