What many people are experiencing due to COVID-19, and the need to find more  creative solutions, is how we Mexicans, have spend our lives for years.

Although I lost my house when the virus hit, actually it feels like nothing really changed. I build a temporary wooden place, while I keep on searching for a decent place to rent. Having this in between place, creates time and space to find something decent to rent. I need that time because where one lives, is really important. No matter how it looks, it must feel like coming home, a place to rest and find peace.  My wooden shack, of course, is not ideal but knowing its temporary keeps me going. But of course, there is also a bright side to the pandemic. Since many rich people left big cities and move into this area, it created lots of job opportunities. As a landscaper, there is work now everywhere. Every day is different and diverse. One day I am building a bathroom up on a hill, another day I am taking care a wonderful garden. Not knowing what tomorrow will bring opens up the possibility to trust and enjoy life more in the moment. And this is exactly what I learned throughout the years. My hope is, this will be a trend many more may experience, because it feels like true freedom.

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Be your own hero

Heroes

I needed surgery but when the coronavirus hit, it got postponed. Hospitals always have been places people want to avoid, but especially now it felt lonely at times. First, I needed to be tested for COVID-19. It was horrible, they put a stick in your nose and it feels like it goes right through your head, till the top of your skull.  And then, when I started having fever, it got even worse. The first time I got hospitalized, I was still able to see one visitor, but the next time I had no visitors were allowed.  Especially when you are under medication and not feeling well, all you need is company from loved ones. It was rough time at times for sure, especially when I got infections.

Now, it feels so good to be in nature again. As an eco-psychologist, I spend most of my time outside. It gives me the opportunity to connect with myself. Over the years, I founded @heartwoodpath. The name refers to the inner part of a tree trunk. Our mission is to teach people how the inner world and outer world function so that their lives can become more rewarding. Deep connections with nature, helps us people become self-motivated and effective as individual leaders or becoming your own hero. Over the years, I designed courses and wrote many books and was planning to start a speakers tour but then the virus hit, it all got cancelled. Who wants to plan big meetings now? So I will continue to do it virtually. Now more than ever, people need to connect with themselves and nature. We have to focus on the important things in life, people are dying all over the world.

Finally, HEROES is back!

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Initially, Heroes was launched in 2010, to pay tribute to the vulnerable but also powerful street children in Nicaragua. Later, I focused on stories about Love, Faith and Courage, documenting daily life of the “poor”.
Spending several years in Nicaragua, planted deep roots and created wonderful connections. In 2014, when the plans to build a canal through Nicaragua were revealed, I went back, collecting stories and possible consequences during these times of change. Many people protested against the plans of the Ortega Regime. The canal never became reality. Unfortunately, due to this regime, many people lost their lives, disappeared or were forced to immigrate to safer places.
My personal story in Nicaragua, ended abruptly when I got arrested and deported, while taking pictures of protests.

Being arrested and deported as a photojournalist was scary but it pushed me to relocate to New York, where I started a new life, made friends and even received a Master Degree.

Often, crises have the ability to push our limits and shift things for the better.
Due to the corona virus, we globally face challenging times. But instead of focusing on the negative side of the story, I prefer to shine a light on the bright side.
So, what positive changes brought COVID-19 to you?

The big Nicaraguan canal dream

Nicaragua remains the second poorest country in the Western Hemisphere after Haiti. Natural disasters, a 43-year dictatorship, a revolution, and civil war stalled economic development over the past 50 years. Despite the good news its economy grew by more than 4 percent last year the average Nicaraguan earns less than $2,000 per year.

It’s the dream of Nicaragua people to eradicate poverty and build a bright future.

The Nicaraguan government, hopes the canal will make this dream come true. In return for a concession to the Chinese company HKND, it hopes for billions of dollars of investment, tens of thousands of jobs and, eventually, a stable source of national income.

“This is a project,” president Daniel Ortega promised, “that will bring well-being, prosperity, and happiness to the Nicaraguan people. It will create great opportunities for the economic development of Central American countries as well as the Caribbean region and become a new strategic engine for prospering and promoting world trade.”

Lake Cocimbolca also named lake Nicaragua, which will be split in two by the canal

Lake Cocimbolca also named lake Nicaragua, which will be split in two by the canal

Following local and international scientists, the canal would be an environmental catastrophe, threatening a host of ecosystems across the country.

Fearing they will be displaced, farmers protest in Nueva Guinea (14th november 2014) against the construction of the canal.

Fearing they will be displaced, farmers protest in Nueva Guinea (14th november 2014) against the construction of the canal.                       

The construction would displace 30.000 of Nicaraguans, including indigenous people whose territories the canal would cross. Telemaco Talavera, rector of the National Agrarian University and spokesman for Nicaragua’s Canal Commission, said anyone who will be displaced will fairly be compensated for their property based on its value as of June 2013.

But the project, which critics claim marks a new era of colonialism in Nicaragua, has so far raised eyebrows as much for its secrecy as for its titanic ambitions.

My beloved families

@MichèleSennesael-4@MichèleSennesael-9

Meeting my beloved families again was great.

By purchasing Heroes Stories of Love, Faith and Courage, you are supporting Las Hormiguitas. The income is used to support this local organization in Matagalpa (Nicaragua) which encourage children of poor families to go to school, helps mothers to stop sexual abuse, informs local people about their human rights…

It all started in 2011 with a documentary of street children in Matagalpa. If we’re able to fly to the moon, we’re definitely able to make some important changes for our children.
Book details:
Autor: Michèle Sennesael
Pages: 112
Text: Dutch, French, English
 Hardcover 280 x 240 mm
ISBN: 9789082141009
 Prize: €35
Available via michelesennesael@hotmail.com or via all Standaard Boekhandels in Belgium

 

 
 

Lectures on Heroes – Stories of Love, Faith and Courage

cover How to survive in extreme poverty?  What impact does this have on the education and daily live of children and why do a lot of them finally end up in the streets?
To find an answer to these questions photographer Michèle Sennesael travelled to Nicaragua. First she lived during several months in the streets to learn more about those streetchildren and afterwards she lived in the slums of Matagalpa. She talks about her experiences and special encounters.

Are you looking for a guest speaker and would you like to find out more about this project? Please feel free to contact me via e-mail:  michelesennesael@hotmail.com