Hey, my name is Guillaume, I’m a cinematographer.

I met Philip while filming within the volcanic landscapes of a remote island in Vanuatu, one of the poorest regions in the South Pacific. Philip was reserved at first, but his confidence emerged the moment he pointed out smoke rising from the forest floor as we drove up the crater. He was born here, at the foot of Mount Yasur on Tanna Island, and he knew this place better than anyone.

During our time together, he guided us with warmth and honesty, answering every question about his culture and the volcano that shaped his life. Philip had learned the ropes of volcanology informally from Thomas Boyer, one of Vanuatu’s most respected volcanologists. In many ways, his field knowledge of Yasur made him essential to scientific crews. After many days working together, he opened up about his son, John, and his ambition to pursue a higher education to become a volcanologist himself.

Philip dreams for John to go further than he ever could. But education in the South Pacific is costly and often out of reach for families like theirs.

This campaign is our opportunity to help a local pursue an education that will allow him to become the first volcanologist from Tanna.

If you feel moved by their story, we invite you to contribute and share.

Together, we can help John access the education he aspires to, and help a family transform its future.