The Woman's Eye

Yesterday I was featured as the Person of the Day on The Women's Eye's blog. Although the title says it clearly, I sort of missed the fact that I got dethroned already, after 24 hours. 

But here it is; it's a nice write up of my work and organization.


The Women's Eye:

Cinematographer Martina Radwan Gives New Life To Mongolia’s Street Children

                                       

                                   Martina Radwan and Baaskaa in Mongolia

My Last Day in Mongolia.

It’s difficult. Baaskaa is often closed-off and withdrawn and I can’t figure out why. He works every day, so I only get to see him in the evening. So far, he brought a friend home every night, which in general I have nothing against, except that he often uses them as a shield, not to get close to me.

In addition there are all these battles that you have to fight with every teenager, but with one who never had guidance in particular. I ask him to do something – in his interest – he says he will, and of course, he never does, which turns me into a nagging mother. Remember....?!

He has never learned how to pursue a goal. His goals are often out of reach that he sets himself up for failure; consequently he gets depressed and gives up. He doesn’t know that success has a lot to do with making a lot of baby steps, many of them boring. It’s tough, to top it off, he is now at an age when he doesn’t want to be told what to do.

This NYT article describes the hard ship of lacking sufficient support pretty well. Although the featured girls are way ahead of him, they still deal with the similar issues.

His lack of know-how is another reason why I want him to come to NYC. Foremost I want him to learn English, which will be the first step of achieving something that yields instant results; he’ll be able to communicate with me, his environment and it will enhance his chances for a better job at home. Additionally I also want him to be with me for an extended period of time, so I can teach him how to pursue goals. Not that I know it all, or that I am the greatest teacher, but I am pretty much the only one around right now.

But I have to admit, I hit a wall, I am not superwoman. It's hard to give and do and stay cheerful for a long time, without getting much in return, while away from everything that gives me comfort.

I have to remind myself where he comes from, although that's not how I want to define him. However, I am always amazed how well he is together, given his upbringing, so when I hit a wall, I have to shift focus onto how much he has achieved in a short time.

Last night I got a glimpse of his inner turmoil; clearly sad about my imminent leave, but without looking at me, he asked when I’ll return. All I can think off is “I am still here, talk to me!”

This traditional coat, called deel, was my welcome gift from Baaskaa. He must have spent more then a third of his monthly salary to buy it for me, which broke my heart. The round sign, a common symbol in Mongolia, means happiness.  

I swear, if he will come to NY, I will wear it to pick him up from the airport.

It is a cold winter in Mongolia.

My friends warned me before I came, they said this winter is cold, but I didn't believe them. I do now.  
It is cold. 
On good days it's only -18F. There are bad days as well. 

Early Christmas Party

They didn’t believe me when I said I’d throw a Christmas party, but once the boys saw it they all had big smiles on their faces and it became a Facebook event.

It just took some nice decoration, a fake tree, candle light and of course, a couple of small presents to make them happy. Knowing what happened at home makes it all the more enjoyable to see a bunch of teenage boys enjoy themselves (they are really young adults at this point!). 

 

Another trip to Mongolia.

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Although I had been in Mongolia three times this year, I wanted to return before Baaskaa's work season ends, because I was worried he'd have another rough winter.

However, I was wrong, he had figured it out. When his out of town job ended in mid November, he and two of his close friends returned to the city, rented a room and found work on another construction site.

Last winter Baaskaa and I had discussed his housing option and when I suggested to rent a room with his friends, he told me that it’s not done. Young people don’t live on their own; they live with their families or relatives. He did keep asking questions though, how much it would cost per month and where one could find such a room, to which I could only give vague answers. Now, eight month later, he did exactly that; he and two of his closed friends had managed to find a place so they could share costs and responsibilities.

It is fulfilling to see results of my efforts, but once again, it became clear that all he needs is some inspiration and knowledge. His past has conditioned him to believe that things we take for granted are out of reach for him. It has become my main effort is to teach him to overcome these old belief systems and habits.

Exactly that is my mission now. I want to bring him temporarily to the US, so he can learn English, which in return will enhance his chances to get a good job next spring. I also want him to experience New York’s melting pot and witness how people use their imagination and wits to create a life for themselves.

That said, our chances to get a visa are not great. Temporary visitor are seen as potential immigrant, so it’s up to him to proof that he will return and not become a burden to the American taxpayer. The way to do that is to provide proof of social ties, which of course, as a 20-year old orphan, he can’t. He’d need a family, a steady job and assets to qualify as a visitor. Although I understand the policies of it all, it irritates me that he is repeatedly punished for something that is out of his control.

To make up for it, I have gathered numerous supporting documents, tax returns, bank statements and letters of support from American friends who worked in UB and got to know him. I even cut together a short “character reel” to show Baaskaa’s sincerity and connection to his homeland. I have chosen an ESL program for him and rearranged my studio apartment so I can accommodate another bed. I am putting it out there!

We will apply for a visa as soon as I arrive, but it mainly dependents on the interview which will happen in a couple of weeks.

So please, I can use as many crossed fingers as I can get and it’s never too early to start!

The Unforgotten Coat

For all those of you who need to find holidays gifts for youngsters, please check out Frank Cottrell Boye's book The Unforgotten Coat.  

An evocative immigration tale about two Mongolian brothers trying to survive in London without loosing their nomadic traditions  - a daring story that miraculously defies belief.

Publisher Weekly called it "A tight, powerful story-brimming with humor, mystery, and pathos."

It's a beautifully designed book, with Polaroid snap shots of the boy's imagination. I read it and I loved it.
 

New Update: After 15 years of unanswered questions, Vannie meets his mother.

Here is the long anticipated story of Vannie’s reunion with his mother. As mentioned in one of my previous posts, at the age of two, Vannie was left behind in an orphanage and subsequently spent the following 12 years in various institutions. He had no recollection of his parents or relatives. 

Through entirely unrelated and unforeseen events, we found a link to his past and located his mother.

Last August I went back to Mongolia to help facilitate the reunion and to be Vannie’s backup.

Although the entire trip was focused around Vannie, I also saw Nasa briefly, who was a bit thrown by the excitement; and reminded of her own past. Her mom died when she was five-years old and shortly after she was separated from her siblings.

Baaskaa had planned to be in UB for my visit, but by the time I arrived he had found a job close to the Russian border. We talked a lot on the phone, but at the end I couldn’t bear not to see him, so Vannie and I embarked on a rather grueling eight-hour trip (one way) up north.

It ill be seen how the relationship between son and mother will develop. Speaking from my own experience, I think it will depend a lot on the mother’s actions and how much she will engage and invest in getting to know her son. Vannie is not the outgoing fighter type, and although he doesn’t seem to hold his mother’s actions against her, he has been hurt badly. I will do anything I can to support him, but ultimately it’s about their wishes, action and time. 

Jeff announces his new tour

Neutral Milk Hotel's Jeff Mangum announced his he will be touring the U.S. throughout January and February.

This is how he puts it:
“hello friends in a flock of finches unfolding from the face of a foam horse on the phone to inform you that Jeff is heading out for a u.s. acoustic tour, giving him the chance to play to all the silver citizens dwelling in cites that he has yet to sing in.”
 

He has kindly attached Children of the Blue Sky as his charity of choice again. A portion of concert proceeds and one dollar from every box set will be donated to my organization and others in need.
He had done so for his last tour and almost single handily made the efforts of last year possible.

Please go to NMH website for dates and location. 

You never know!

This story goes a bit backwards in time, but it’s worth telling. 

 It was always understood that Vannie is an orphan. He had been given up as a toddler, and with a name as common as Smith or Johnson, there was no way to track his family down. But sometimes things work in mysterious ways. 

While applying for his government support, out of the blue, a clerk points at Vannie’s papers and says: “ I know his mother, we were classmates in elementary school. She just moved to Gobi”.

We decided not to tell Vannie anything, because at that point, it was just a suspicion.  Some serious detective work was needed, and who was better suited for that than Ayuraa, the police chief in charge of runaways! When I returned to the US in late April, I believed that I’d set things in motion. 

 To read the full story and updates of my June 2012 trip, please go to the website.  http://www.eternalblueskyofmongolia.org/

To be continued soon.

Borgne, Haiti and HOPE

One of the most  incredible women I ever had the opportunity to meet and shoot with was interviewed about her project in Haiti by Women’s Eye. Her story is very inspirational, particular in a time like this.

Rose-Marie Chierici, a native Haitian, and a handful of her colleagues from Rochester, NY, have built a hospital and several connected projects in Borgne, a largely ignored region in Haiti. What impressed me most is her determination to ensure that the affected communities are involved in the daily management of the projects. People need to be invested in order to care. Please take a look at her project, H.O.P.E.

Borgne stretches from the sea, through a valley, up the mountains. Traditionally the people have lived of farming and fishing. 

As a peasant community, most people are forced to live right at the edge of subsistence and extreme poverty is visible everywhere. 

Basic infrastructure like electricity and running water is non-existent. 

H.O.P.E.’s hospital is the only hospital in the region. 

 





Because of the lack of infrastructure, people often have to walk or be carried for hours to reach the hospital. 

Before H.O.P.E. people had to walk up to 120 miles, to Cap Haitian, for emergencies and basic medical care.   

This boy was brought in after he severed his tendon with his machete while working in the field. His dad, several family members and neighbors brought him down from the mountain, carrying him in a casket. 

After the boy's leg was stitched up, the family started the four hour trek back up the mountain. 

The hospital is the only building that has electricity in the region. 

H.O.P.E. also organizes and runs a mobile clinic, which goes out to a different community every week to provide medical care. Furthermore they support a mobile teacher unit and several water and tree planting projects. All projects are selected, prioritized and managed by the community leaders. The funding for these projects, including the hospital, the largest employer in the region, comes from private donations raised by H.O.P.E., mainly from the States. 

Rose-Marie is also one of three moms to Valery, a two year old chubby boy. 

Valery was left at the hospital when he was a couple month old. He was so malnourished that everyone thought he'll die. Two women, both hospital staff, refused to give up on him and somehow managed to nurse him back to health.  

We got to witness Valery's first day of kindergarten. Both mom's walked him to school; one held his hand for the duration of the walk, while the other took over when he stepped over the threshold of the kindergarten. 

  
For the entire walk we had an audience cheering on Valery.  

It does take a village to raise a child! And in this case H.O.P.E.

All images are taken from the footage of the film, courtesy of director Bonnie Strauss.

A Week After Sandy

Things are almost back to normal, at least for some of us. Except the empty shelves in delis and supermarkets.

What an experience. I was always afraid of water and wind, two incredible forces. Nevertheless,  I have to admit I didn’t take the storm that serious, at first. I quickly changed my mind when I went to the East River during the day, hours before Sandy hit. It was quite humbling how wrong I was.

Thank goodness, I have practiced life without essentials in Mongolia! When in the countryside, I live without power, hot water, heater or fridge. But then again, if you have to do that at home, the novelty of the adventure wears off quickly.

If I have to life through another crisis, I want to do so in the East Village. I love my neighborhood. Everyone pulls together. Restaurants cooked their perishables on the sidewalk and portable grills came out for potluck diners. When it got dark, bars opened their doors and sold warm beer under candlelight. I never felt unsafe, not even when I had to walk the dog at night, and all I could see were dark shapes moving towards me, waving around blinding flashlights.  

It was strange to look up and see a dark sky, while a white cloud of light hovered above uptown. During a cloudless night, we got to see the stars and the full mood lit up the streets, like I had never experienced before. The glass was half full, at least some times.


I am glad life is back to normal, while I have a new appreciation for comfort.

True New York moment

I just got a call from a lovely gentleman with an unusual request:

Tomorrow is his wife’s birthday and they'll attend Jeff Mangun's show at BAM, Neutral Milk Hotel. They are his biggest fans, well, he was a big fan and then introduced Jeff's music to his wife and now she's his biggest fan!

She loves the band so much that the husband called me, to ask if I could possible get in touch with Jeff and ask him if he could wish her happy birthday during the concert, while on stage. Now that I call love. It was awkward, but I have to give it to him, he asked!

Jeff’s generous support generated during his current tour, which started last fall and continues until June of this year, made an entire trip to Mongolia possible. In addition, it enable me to pay Vannie’s school fee for the next two semesters. That is quite an accomplishment, and relief, as I wasn’t sure how to make it happen.

As an added gift to being the chosen charity of an exceptional musician, I encounter people I wouldn’t have met otherwise, like the loving husband who wants to surprise his wife.

Happy Birthday Danna!