How Africa Changed My Life

In May 2003, I had been living in Los Angeles for about 2 years when I was approached by a young aspiring actor and filmmaker. He told me that he had been involved with an organization called, The Hunger Project and was looking to do a documentary film that would bridge the gap between a donor's investment and the action on the ground. Basically put, he wanted to see how his money was going to actually help end world hunger. The idea of this sounded extremely exciting and I immediately agreed to become the Director of Photography for the film. Yes it seemed like a noble cause, but selfishly and secretly I was more excited about the idea of travel, adventure, and especially being the 'Director of Photography'. At the time, I was just beginning my career as a filmmaker and this project was going to be my first full-length film. What happened next I could have never planned for.

Before traveling we met with a local representative from The Hunger Project who explained two things about their strategy that I had never heard before. Empowering the people themselves to end their own hunger and that the direct subjugation of women was one of the root causes of why hunger still persisted. At the time my understanding of hunger was limited to the images I saw growing up of children with flies in their faces and bodies that were so malnourished that you could see their entire skeleton. How could these people actually be able to their own hunger without some form of food aid?

In preparation for our journey, we interviewed various people in Los Angeles to get their perspective on hunger, why it exists, and if they thought it could end. One particular interview was with a Zen Priest who asked us one simple question "Why are you going" We gave some kind of answer stating how we were going to help the people and that we could do something for them. No matter how hard I tried to feel the truth in my answer I really had no clue what I was actually going to be able to do. He looked us both in the eyes and said, 'The minute you step off that plane you will realize that it has nothing to do with what you can do for them, but what they will do for you.'

In June 2003 we traveled to the sub-Saharan African country of Malawi to document the work of The Hunger Project with a group of investors that contribute to the organization. We arrived in the southern city of Blantyre, named after the famous Scottish Missionary and explorer, David Livingstone's, hometown. That night as I laid to rest I began to feel as though I had gotten lost and my fears and excitement were getting the best of me.

The next morning we set off on a large bus for the rural village of Mpingo where the community was just beginning to participate with The Hunger Project. Very quickly we were off the pavement and traveling along a bumpy dirt road. Little mud huts with thatch roofs were nestled a short distance from the road and as we zoomed by them, children would come running out towards us, cheering, waving, and smiling. Why were they so happy to see us? What had we done to deserve such a welcoming by these people?

After about twenty minutes the road started to get really rough as we slowly navigated down a steep hill into a small ravine. At the bottom we crossed over a shallow creek bed and then began to climb back up reaching the other side of the ravine, revealing a small grove of trees just a short distance ahead. As we approached I started to see something very large beginning to move through the trees. Within moments hundreds of villagers poured out of the trees, dancing in a pulsating rhythmic dance with their arms waving in unison, singing a beautiful song created for The Hunger Project. Our bus was engulfed immediately by the community and as our doors swung open I turned to my film partner, eyes popping out in astonishment, and said, 'Here we go!' Stepping out into the sea of Malawians I knew that my life would never be the same.

For the first time, I saw a possibility of a new future. The country was starving, yet from the moment I met my first local, I felt nothing but warmth and friendship. I had entered a reality where 25% of the population dies from hunger every year and discovered what humanity can be. I felt a connection. Here, in the middle of Africa, I finally experienced what it is to be part of a global community. I was shocked by their greetings, their songs, with so much misfortune they were happy. United, man and woman together, determined to end their own hunger. It was truly unbelievable to witness. I returned to the states with a new sense of purpose, a better understanding of the world that I live in, and thinking about all the great things that we as a family have accomplished. If we can end slavery, we can end hunger. If we can put a man on the moon, we can end hunger. This I believe. Welcome to the End of Hunger.