Anjouan, Comoros Islands Island Stories
Similar Content
Browse content similar to Anjouan, Comoros Islands. Check below for episodes and series from the same categories and more!
Transcript
| Line | From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|
Off the coast of Mozambique | 0:00:22 | 0:00:23 | |
is an island where traditions are upheld and fragrant flowers grow. | 0:00:23 | 0:00:29 | |
Life on Anjouan is hard, but the drive to prosper is evident. | 0:00:36 | 0:00:42 | |
If you're scared of heights, you might struggle here. | 0:00:51 | 0:00:54 | |
It's a volcanic island where mountains tower above you. | 0:00:54 | 0:00:58 | |
The landscape is breathtaking. | 0:00:58 | 0:01:00 | |
And hidden in these spectacular hills, | 0:01:10 | 0:01:12 | |
a precious and prized commodity... | 0:01:12 | 0:01:15 | |
..the ylang-ylang flower. | 0:01:16 | 0:01:18 | |
A key ingredient in the world's most luxurious perfumes, | 0:01:21 | 0:01:25 | |
Anjouan is the world's top producer | 0:01:25 | 0:01:28 | |
and these women pick up to 40kg every day. | 0:01:28 | 0:01:32 | |
Echa started out as a flower picker. | 0:01:35 | 0:01:38 | |
Today, she runs her own plantation. | 0:01:38 | 0:01:41 | |
-TRANSLATION: -We planted ylang-ylang and other crops | 0:01:41 | 0:01:44 | |
but it's ylang-ylang that still generates an income today. | 0:01:44 | 0:01:48 | |
I worked in the fields picking flowers | 0:01:48 | 0:01:50 | |
and eventually made enough money to buy the land. | 0:01:50 | 0:01:53 | |
Working ylang-ylang is very difficult in every way. | 0:01:53 | 0:01:57 | |
And it comes at a cost, too. | 0:01:57 | 0:02:00 | |
Trees are chopped down to fuel the 350 distilleries. | 0:02:00 | 0:02:04 | |
Production continues all year round. | 0:02:04 | 0:02:08 | |
The challenges of life on Anjouan encourage young people to | 0:02:13 | 0:02:17 | |
strive for something better. | 0:02:17 | 0:02:19 | |
Jemaldin's big brother left Anjouan three years ago. | 0:02:21 | 0:02:25 | |
They haven't seen each other since | 0:02:25 | 0:02:27 | |
and they only speak every three months. | 0:02:27 | 0:02:30 | |
It seems like virtually every family here has a story | 0:02:30 | 0:02:34 | |
of a loved one who's moved to a neighbouring island. | 0:02:34 | 0:02:37 | |
Jemaldin's brother lives 40 miles away on the more prosperous | 0:02:43 | 0:02:48 | |
island of Mayotte. | 0:02:48 | 0:02:49 | |
As a French colony, | 0:02:50 | 0:02:52 | |
it provides more jobs as well as free healthcare and education - | 0:02:52 | 0:02:58 | |
opportunities that Anjouan can't offer. | 0:02:58 | 0:03:01 | |
Ousmani is here illegally but is willing to take his chances. | 0:03:03 | 0:03:08 | |
-TRANSLATION: -Here, you can make things happen. | 0:03:11 | 0:03:13 | |
Everything is possible. | 0:03:13 | 0:03:15 | |
I've decided to do DIY so that I can make some money. | 0:03:15 | 0:03:18 | |
Many prefer to live in Mayotte because of the strength of the euro. | 0:03:18 | 0:03:22 | |
If I can't start a business here, I will do everything I can | 0:03:22 | 0:03:26 | |
to start a business in Anjouan and live there with my friends. | 0:03:26 | 0:03:29 | |
Back in Anjouan, the population is young and growing rapidly. | 0:03:39 | 0:03:44 | |
This new generation will have to decide | 0:03:55 | 0:03:58 | |
whether to leave or keep Anjouan as their home. | 0:03:58 | 0:04:02 |