West Edmonton photographer focuses on Africa

By Mathew White

EDMONTON — Life changing.

That’s how Alek Marcoux describes his trip to Africa.  He just returned a few days ago but he’s already talking about going back.

“You feel the energy of love coming off them,” said Marcoux.

“Probably the happiest people I’ve meet in my life.  Even though they don’t have a lot, they have a lot culturally.”

The beginning

Marcoux’s journey started about a year ago when he was introduced to James Bekecs from the international organization, Youth For Christ.  After working with the group for a year he was invited on the annual trip.

“At first I was questioning whether I should go or not, because you’re traveling across the world,” said Marcoux.  “It’s not something you do everyday.”

But after speaking with different members of the organization and hearing just how remarkable a trip like this can be, Marcoux knew this was something he had to do.  Plus, being a photographer for the past four years, he knew this was something that would provide unbelievable photo possibilities.

“As a photographer you’re a really valuable tool in a group like this because a lot of these kids and a lot of the people there don’t have mirrors, they can’t afford them, so a lot of them don’t even know what they look like,” said Marcoux.

Carrying a backpack and camera, Marcoux hopped on a plane in Edmonton, and after a long flight, landed on a giant black tar mat in the middle of Burundi, Africa.

Burundi

“The second you get off (the plane) you can cut the air with a knife,” said Marcoux.  “It’s super super thick and it just hits your lungs.  It feels like there’s no air compared to here because it’s so dry in Alberta.”

After getting off the plane the group went through what Marcouz describes as a “sketchy” customs process at best.  They then made their way to the Rainbow Centre in Bujumbura – the capital of Burundi.

“Once you get into Burundi, there’s compounds everywhere,” said Marcoux.  “It isn’t like houses here, where there’s a driveway.  You have a six-to-seven foot wall and there’s glass that’s been broken on top, barb wire and big metal gates.”

After spending a night at the Rainbow Centre, the group traveled to Burundi’s most northern province, Ngozi, to help build clay huts in the B’Taou Village.

“Before they were in little circular mud huts with straw tops,” said Marcoux.  “For a village of 50 people who’d only seen six of these mud huts, you kind of realize they don’t have a lot to live in, so we were creating houses for them.”

After four days of working closely with the B’Taou Village, the group went south to an orphanage located in the Gitega province.  While there, Marcoux said they helped in any way possible, whether it was medically, spiritually or simply doing crafts with the children.  He said the love he felt from the people was like nothing he’s felt before.

“It’s so hard to explain because you kind of have to be there to feel the love that they give, but everyone loves you and they barely know you,” said Marcoux.  “It’s not just because you’re white.  You’re a visitor, someone who’s there to help and that’s why they’re so nice to you and that’s why they want to give back to you in anyway possible.”

Marcoux said if he had to pick one thing about the entire trip that was the most rewarding, it would be the fact that he could show people the pictures he was taking.

“There was one mom who I took a picture of her and her baby, and when I showed it to her, she started crying and was so thankful for me showing her that picture,” said Marcoux.

After spending just over a week in the Gitega province, the group made their way back to the Rainbow Centre, where they stayed for a couple days before coming home.  Marcoux said there wasn’t much sight seeing however.

“You shouldn’t really walk around town, just because you’re white and your nickname there is ‘money bags’ so if you go outside you’ll get swarmed by a bunch of people,” said Marcoux.

Listen to Alek’s story about a close encounter with one of the world’s deadliest snakes here:

SnakeStory by westedmontonlocal

Going back

Now that he’s home, Marcoux is already making arrangements to go back to Burundi.  He said he is hoping to build a safe haven for anyone in the country who needs it.

“It’s something I’m going to try and take day by day and step by step,” said Marcoux.  “I’m not going to try and do it in one giant leap because if I do that it’s not going to work.  How I plan on doing it, I have no idea.  It’s going to happen, but I have no idea how.”