Access to quality health care in rural Lesotho, a mountainous nation in Southern Africa, is a pressing issue. A group called Extending the Link (ETL) is taking on this challenge. Their new documentary, “I’m Here, Where Are You,” highlights these struggles. It will debut at 7 p.m. on April 30 at the Stephen B. Humphrey Theater at Saint John’s University.
ETL, made up of students from the College of Saint Benedict (CSB) and Saint John’s University (SJU), sheds light on underreported social justice issues worldwide. Their motto? “Think globally, act locally.” They aim to present stories from places that often lack a platform.
Ellie Rose Piette, a CSB senior and co-video director for the documentary, shared the goal of ETL: “We are ethical storytellers. Our job is to find significant social justice issues and bring those stories back to our community.”
The documentary ties closely to Ellen Block, a sociology and anthropology professor at CSB and SJU. She has spent years supporting Touching Tiny Lives, a nonprofit that aids rural health care in Lesotho. Block invited a team of six ETL members, including Piette, to visit Lesotho in January. There, they conducted interviews and witnessed the challenges faced by residents.
Piette noted, “One of the biggest hurdles is the distance to health care facilities. Touching Tiny Lives works to bring health care to the people, not the other way around.” They even accompanied teams on outreach trips, confronting treacherous roads and long travel times, all for the sake of reaching those in need.
The experience left a strong impression. Gabe Evenocheck, a junior at SJU, said, “Standing on a cliff, looking over the landscape, was breathtaking. But what struck me most was the warmth of the people. They welcomed us and wanted to know our mission.”
The stark contrast between health care access in the U.S. and Lesotho is striking. Piette remarked, “Here in Minnesota, we can easily access primary care. In Lesotho, that’s not an option. It’s important for people here to understand this disparity.”
Jacob Hadjiyanis, another crew member and psychology major, found the project enriching both culturally and professionally. “It was a unique opportunity to learn about another culture while improving my filmmaking skills.”
Piette summed up their journey: “Despite having fancy gear, we were surrounded by those who may have never seen a camera. It reminded me how fortunate we are to have resources for projects like this.”
The documentary not only raises awareness but also urges viewers to consider the stark differences in health care access worldwide. Such insights can inspire change and empathy.
For more details on health care challenges in Lesotho, visit the Tiny Lives Foundation.
