Erik Tremblay chronicles Canadian humanitarian work

Erik Tremblay describes himself as a traveller. A journalist and videographer, it’s these skills he is employing on his 4-month journey through Peru, Nicaragua, Honduras and Haiti.  He is there to chronicle the fruits of Canadian humanitarian projects up close.  He will produce 12 short films, and blog about the experiences in the meantime.  Erik Tremblay had visited some of these countries 20 years ago, and is impressed with the changes he is finding on this tour.

Erik Tremblay is working with the Quebec-based group SUCO.  The group’s mission is to “contribute to disadvantaged populations having greater participation in and control of their development through capacity building”.

Erik’s project, in French, is called La Grande Coop, which could be translated to “Major Co-operation”.  He has seen the difference SUCO is making high in the Andes of Peru.  There, after an arduous trip which included a challenging climb, he witnessed the isolation of life, and the connection, through cell phone technology.  Erik Tremblay says “technology is definetely, metaphorically speaking, the esperanto that a lot of people were waiting for.”

Erik Tremblay talks about the improving situation of indegenous people in Peru.  He witnessed the efforts to change the negative cultural and historical associations many indegenous people have with quinoa, the superfood the rest of the world has recently discovered.

Erik Tremblay is now in Nicaragua, where he sees a transformation in the country and the people.  Carmel Kilkenny spoke with Erik, from the town of Esteli, on the eve of the 34th anniversary of that country’s revolution.