Phila is a 7 year-old boy from Eswatini who suffered life-threatening burns in September. He has been receiving incredible treatment from the team at Shriners Children's Boston and from his loving caregiver, Fikile, since early March. He is a determined, patient, joyful little boy with the most precious soul. When my sister and I serendipitously met Phila in the alley next to our Boston apartment in early June, we could never have imagined the relationship that would ensue. After realizing that Phila and his caregiver were living in Boston without means or support, we started a fundraiser and have been overwhelmed with support from the community. In an effort to convey Phila's personality to those who are supporting him, I put together a short video to Noah Kahan's song, Call Your Mom. The lyrics "Don't let this darkness fool you, all lights turned off can be turned on" had been on repeat in my head all week, and it felt like it was written directly for Phila. This child was 8,000 miles away from home and had no way to speak to his mother. Within days of meeting Phila, we sent a phone to Eswatini, so that the two could communicate during this extremely challenging time.

The simple pleasures of New England have brought joy in tough moments, and Noah's album, Stick Season, has served as a soundtrack to Phila's summer. He has quite literally learned english as he sings these songs from memory. As Phila continues to embody courage and power through the endless surgeries, it's impossible to deny the impact this has had on his mental health. As my sister and I continue to brainstorm ways to encourage him and Fikile, I remembered seeing Noah's launch of The Busyhead Project. "Meeting the needs of marginalized communities with both crisis care and tools for sustainable resilience." As I looked into the mission of this project, I couldn't believe the parallels with what we were witnessing in Phila's journey. Noah's songwriting has resonated with me since 2017 and it has been a joy to witness his ongoing success and mission to give back to the community. I don't believe in coincidences. Just like I don't believe it was a coincidence we met Phila on our street corner next to Fenway back in June, I don't believe it's a coincidence Noah announced his show at Fenway next summer shortly after launching The Busyhead Project. My wheels are turning as I think about how I may be able to support the mission of The Busyhead Project through my photography and videography. The Busyhead Project could be an intersection where Noah's incredible gift for song, my passion for visual storytelling & mental health awareness can meet.