The Goodfellows Project is an independent collaboration between three young filmmakers: Andrew Sheppard, Ryan Perry and Johnny Okkerse. The idea came about during the summer of 2007, when Sheppard pitched his concept to a group of coworkers while working on the set of Les Stroud’s Survivorman. The idea: help bring awareness to groups and individuals enacting real social and environmental change in the world’s most distressed regions. The immediate reaction from his Survivorman peers? “Yeah, that could work!”
Three years later, Sheppard, Perry and Okkerse are making their dream a reality. Having purchased a big white van they call Becky, they are on the road to their first Goodfellows location: Parque Chimiyá, a local park that has changed the lives of the community of Comalapa in rural Guatemala.
The park is the first of its kind in the area, providing a beautiful, safe space for local families seeking educational, recreational and sports activities in the heart of their community. The initiative, spearheaded by non-profit organization Long Way Home, has been in the works since 2005. Okkerse explains, “Within the last five years, Long Way Home has turned an underutilized piece of land into a full-service recreational park, recycling center and organic garden. Through the focused energy of over 600 volunteers, Parque Chimiyá is now a place where the community learns, plays and congregates year-round.” (http://www.longwayhomeinc.org/en/projparcchimiya)
Raising sponsorship for the trip through family, friends and a garage sale, and with help from Peter Turrell of the Millennium Institute, the Goodfellows secured a number of top of the line solar panels to install at Comalapa’s local school. The power will be a great step up from their current power generation and will allow for night time classes to be scheduled. The bus is also packed with a computer projector, and general school and sport supplies.
The filmmakers agree they’re most interested in meeting the people who have dedicated their lives to building the park and helping this local community who badly needs it. “We will prove,” explains Sheppard, “that everyday people can make a difference by filming the challenges facing affected communities, the people and the projects that provide hope and opportunity – as well as all of the adventures we encounter getting to these remote locations along the way.”
Traveling over 5000 kilometres from Toronto, Canada to Comalapa, Guatemala may be the greatest challenge of their lives to date, but these Goodfellows are in high spirits. Perry says, “The adventures will be great, the people will be beautiful, and the outcome will be nothing short of life changing.”
Follow their story online – join them on facebook and twitter!
Visit www.thegoodfellowsproject.com for more information and to find out how you can help.
Andrew, Ryan, and Johnny – Wishing you every good fortune as you undertake this challenging adventure in pursuit of your dream. I am excited and happy for you, and looking forward to future communications from you as you nurture this very worthwhile and thoughtful project to maturity. Certainly Les’ work has demonstrated for us all the immense influence a dedicated, talented, and passionate filmmaker can have on our lives. When I watch Les’ film work, I always know that this is not some impersonal “act”, but a Real person with Real feelings who is Really Experiencing what is being filmed. I always suffer or celebrate with him, and that is what is important to me. I like that you named your van Becky
She’s very beautiful, and looks strong, which she will need to be to make such a long journey. I have named every vehicle I have ever owned – my current one is Dustmite (she is small, and dusty). It is good to know you would understand, without it having to be explained, why it is important that a vehicle should be given an appropriate name. I know Becky will do her best for you as she carries her precious cargo to its destination. I hope there is a good mechanic among you though in case she is in need of assistance, and I hope you have saved a bit of space inside her for a copy of Les’ book, “Survive”, a small survival kit, and a Spot. Wishing you well always and looking forward to future communications as your project continues to develop.
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