A Sole of Africa team went to Maputo in October 2007 to film the remarkable
story of landmine survivor Julio Colete - and came back with a lot
more than enough footage to enter a 15-minute film into the
prestigious Cinema Verite film festival in Paris.
We returned with hearts that sang of the unquenchable spirit of a
small Mozambican community which has next to nothing in the way of
material accoutrements but an abundance of love and joy.
Among the mud huts of the "poor" township in which Julio lives, I
found myself surrounded by children, rags on their backs but
unconfined joy in their hearts, whose genuine warmth towards the two
4x4 truckloads of strange white South Africans with their expensive
cameras, iPods and designer gear left me spiritually uplifted.
The simple gift of a tennis ball had these children spilling over with
elation and gratitude. I was utterly humbled. And left wondering
whether true wealth lay not with these wondrous ragamuffins, blessed
with the love and support of their tightly-knit community, rather than
with our materialistic so-called "more sophisticated First World
societies".
I cannot wait to return to Maputo to implement "Photographing The
Sole" and "The Children's Garden of Africa", two further initiatives
by The Sole of Africa which will help realise the potential of people
whose lives have been decimated by the fearful menace of landmines, an
entirely unnecessary manmade scourge which continues to render
Mozambican communities unable to work on the land which could feed
them.
You can help to raise awareness by simply spreading the word to your
family and friends, tell them of the 'Sole of Africa.
Warmest regards
Howard Donaldson
Media Director: The Sole of Africa SA
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The remarkable journey of Julio Colete |
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Mike Kendrick (founder Mineseeker) and Julio Colete
Photo: courtesy of
Geoff Brink
Julio Colete bears more than a passing resemblance to American
film director Spike Lee. But, although Julio now has a starring
role in one movie under his belt, his life could not be further
removed from that of a stellar figure in the glamorous world of
international cinema.
Julio's film debut came about because of one simple and undeniable
truth.
He has no legs. They were blown away 19 years ago in one
terrifying explosion of metal and flesh.
There was little that the medics could do for Julio.
It is an outrage, a despicable blot on the landscape of our
humanity. The Sole of Africa, a demining campaign initiated by the
Mineseeker Foundation, is working hard in Mozambique to rid the
country of landmines and to give support to those literally
brought to their knees by this terrible manmade scourge.
The
Ryan Ribbink Surf Tours - sponsored 4x4 trucks carried
representatives of The Sole of Africa and attendant film crew to
visit Julio last week.
When we finally bumped to a halt outside Julio's hut, there was a
great deal of handshaking and high-fiving to be done before we
could get near to the subject of our film, who was standing on his
prosthetic legs, supported by crutches, at the doorway to his
two-room hut, a huge grin on his handsome face.
After Mike Kendrick, the London-based CEO and founder of
Mineseeker, had talked to Julio about the schedule for the
documentary, filming immediately got underway.
When The Sole of Africa first heard of his plight and of his
interest in all things technological, the anti-landmine campaign
arranged for Julio to be enrolled in a local computer training
college.
Julio, desperate to learn and become self-sufficient, is making
wonderful progress on the computer course and is looking forward
to taking over the administration of The Sole of Africa's website
once he has his certificate.
The future now looks a lot brighter for the quiet, unassuming
Julio Colete.
VIEW JULIO'S VIDEO HERE
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Walking in Ignacio's steps |
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Ambassador
Lucie Diamond and Ignacio
Photo: courtesy of
Geoff Brink
But what of the thousands of other amputees who limp through life
on rudimentary prostheses, selling whatever they can find on the
pavements or picking through the landfill sites on which they live
in tin shacks?
The thousands who are blinded by landmines like Ignacio and cannot
literally see a future?
British country star and Sole of Africa Ambassador Lucie Diamond
travelled all the way from the UK to join us on location in
Mozambique. Lucie wanted to see for herself the devastation caused
by the man made problem of landmines.
Lucie, a true star in every sense of the word, gave freely of her
time in a busy schedule to help us to bring our campaign to
eradicate landmines from this planet into the spotlight.
Ignacio was introduced to The Sole of Africa team by Americans
Jimmy Read and Nancy Anderson of Iris Ministries at Zimpeto
Mission outside of Maputo.
Although he may look to be at least in his forties, Ignacio is
only 20 and was just nine when half of his face was blown away by
a particularly evil human invention, a mine that - when trodden
upon - is designed to jump just over five feet into the air before
exploding.
This terribly clever piece of military machinery has left
Ignacio's face severely disfigured, blinding him and mangling his
nose, chin and ears.
He can barely speak or show expression but is able to hear - and
he managed a small smile of pure elation when Lucie, sang to him.
All who met Lucie in Mozambique were charmed by her gentle spirit
and beautiful voice.
Ignacio relies completely on Iris Ministries for food and clothing
and arrangements are being made by Toni Rowland, South African
musician to provide Ignacio, a music lover, with a wind-up radio.
The Sole of Africa has supplied Iris Ministries with six months'
worth of food to be provided to Ignacio. The Sole of Africa will
also be providing a lifeskills program to empower Ignacio for the
future so that he can contribute to the community.
You can help. Every donation made by you is put to good use.
Although these acts of support appear to be small one cannot
describe the joy they bring to people whose lives have been
cruelly shattered by explosive-packed bits of metal loitering with
lethal intent beneath the surface of our Earth.
Extract from the Sunday Tribune SA: courtesy of Howard
Donaldson
Media Director
The Sole of Africa
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eLan's CEO Mark Taylor visits Mozambique |
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Mark Taylor and children
Photo: courtesy of
Geoff Brink
Mark Taylor, CEO of the South African property development group
eLan took time off from his schedule to visit us on location
during the filming of Julio.
Mark was exceptionally taken by the children we met on location in
Mozambique and their friendly smiles of greeting. After spending
time with the children and Lucie Diamond, Mark explained his
vision for the empowerment of people in Mozambique.
"Our partnership with the Mineseeker Foundation is not only an
investment in removing landmines, but an investment in the country
allowing us to create jobs and futures for the people"
Mark Tayor: CEO eLan
The eLan Group have been actively supporting The Sole of Africa,
by donating high end prizes to assist the Foundation with landmine
awareness campaigns.
We would sincerely like to thank Mark for taking the time out of
his schedule to experience the bitter reality of lives changed
irrevocably because of landmine related injuries.
We are all working together to improve the future of Mozambique by
taking one step at a time towards a landmine free planet.
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Ambassadors
Penny Streeter OBE
Diane Farr
Lucie Diamond
Candice Hillebrand
Oscar Pistorius
James Porter
Louise Ashby
Karen Lewis Attenborough
The Mineseeker Foundation |
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