Paul Hessenbruch, a 23-year-old-young journalist, volunteered to sponsor the project by Margot Berg. The team has known each other for years and their common interest on information systems - web or broadcasting - give them some strong experiences.

Paul Hessenbruch is also an alderman in the town hall of Bougival. He is particularly in charge of communication and youth and sports' areas, he brings his contacts and networks to expand the project locally.

A few questions to understand better his investment in the project.


What is your interest in the project?

Latvia is a country we don't speak much about, which is little known in France and often confused with its neighbors Estonia and Lithuania. It is interesting now, with the entrance into the European Union of 12 new former communist countries, to meet them and understand the history of these nations. Most often, to learn more about a country, you have to study its way of life, its people. Margot's project emphasizes this part and for me, it's the most attractive way to see through the mentality of a country.


Why do you support the initiative?

We are both young, with a similar objective - to reflect a reality - but with different approaches. Up to her own project, she takes time to realize dreams and desires, I think it gives a whole new dimension to the reporting. It is a good initiative which shows that even young and without many resources, we can manage and implement some great things. Also, the fact of traveling slowly, going to meet the locals and so on, enable Margot no to be a simple tourist. I really feel she wants to capture the universe of Latvia with its customs and its nuances. I think it is worth supporting it. 

What is your investment in the project?

Since the first ideas, I'm here, I exchange with Margot, I give her some advice from time to time, but she is her own project manager. In any case, I do not want to influence her choices. I am here to encourage, advise her if she feels the need. I'm eager to see the result but I trust her, she will manage very well and she will bring back a testimony worthy of interest!

What is your contribution to the project?

I step in more in the production phase, mainly in the editing. I bring a few techniques, some tips to make video editing dynamic. And I do not see the story from the inside, it's not my baby like Margot's, so I can have a more objective, journalistic, but not too institutional vision of the project. I will be there to support her in her different presentations to institutions and local authorities.

The website is the first mean of communication, what do you think of that?

Internet has become an essential mean of communication. It's modern, fast, instantaneous, www.regardsverslalettonie.org allows us to follow step by step the evolution of travel, to have multimedia documents. I think it's a very good initiative to have a website.

The site is cleverly built, its three parties before / during / after let us understand the evolution of the project, to have more distance on some topics but also to have the first impressions!
Not only is it an advantage, but also brings the project an other way to be broadcasted.

Do you know the Youth in Action Program?

It is important that every young person knows it. Today, we need to build a European awareness, to understand the European culture. For my part, I do not know it but I think it's an interesting device which enables every young person between 18 and 30 years old to travel, to open his mind, to  be integrated into a country not as a tourist but as a local. 

According to the project, do you want to show up in Latvia? 

Not necessarily, but I'm waiting for the results.

What do you wish to Margot for her trip?

I hope her trip will let her the chance to discover a country, a culture and people. I hope it will full of suprises and above a unique adventure!