Blog

After each trip we go on I take some time to reflect upon the experiences we've had, the places we've gone and what has been shared with us during our travels from all the people we've met along the way. As I think about the month we spent traveling around India, and indeed our travels this past year one theme stands out: generosity.

The amount of generosity that has been shown to us by the people we have met during our travels these past months is not necessarily captured in the videos we produce. We have visited four continents and interviewed over 75 people from all different walks of life and facets of society. They spoke many languages, addressed many issues and offered a truly diverse perspective on the idea of seeing life as one interconnected, interdependent whole. Some offered skepticism and questions while others shared experiences, stories and calls for action. Regardless of their personal views, the amount of warmth and kindness we were shown while filming and traveling has been overwhelming. People offered not only their time, but they took us into their homes, fed us, housed us and most importantly, spoke to us about their lives, work and families. Many times I wish we had the camera rolling to capture the small things, the meals shared, the late night conversations, the 'behind the scenes' moments that aren't always caught on film.

Our last few days in India were particularly filled with generosity (see my last blog about our time in Ahmedabad). As guests of Manav Sadhna at the Gandhi Ashram, it seemed as if everyone we met went out of their way to make us feel welcome and at home. On our last day over lunch I was presented a parting gift from Jayeshbhai and the kids of Manav Sadhna. A couple of days before, Jayeshbhai had noticed the project's logo on my business card. He told me how he often uses seeds as a metaphor for the kids he works with, telling them that they will grow into great trees that will then send off many more seeds that have the power to change the future. At lunch I was presented with a bag made from recycled newspaper (another one of the amazing things that the kids of Manav Sadhna make) filled with four beautiful wall hangings on handmade paper (again from the kids) with our logo copied exactly by hand and seeds cut and glued onto the paper.

The time and effort that had gone into making these for us really got to me, and the thought behind it -- it wasn't just a thing, a gift for the sake of giving a gift -- it was much more. That's just one example of what people have given us again and again on our travels, much more than just an interview or a few words of wisdom or hope. They have shared their generosity with us and I hope we can, in turn, share it with you.

Emmanuel Vaughan-Lee