360 Degree video shot in South Africa

During a 2023 spring break trip to Makhanda, South Africa, Soto shot a 360 video to offer a video tour of the community and surrounding area. The trip was funded through Bloomfield College, a small liberal arts college in Essex County, NJ, located 12 miles outside of midtown Manhattan. 

360 videos are immersive videos shot in 360 degrees so the video can be shown from all sides and angles in a spherical view. Prior to traveling to South Africa, Soto shot other videos across the Bloomfield College campus. 

This was undertaken so both communities could see the environment from the other people’s perspective and get a preview of the environment in case people are considering studying abroad. 

Aurelio Alexis Soto shooting 360 videos.

It also gives the ability for the videos to be formatted on WhatsApp, a popular way of communication in South Africa. This content is being turned into an online portal for each community to get information about one another. 

The 360 video shows the similarities and differences between the people, living spaces, and activities of the different places.. While working with the 360 video, Soto understood the impact it would have on students both in Makhanda and Bloomfield. 

“It was a good idea,” said Soto.  “It would give the people in Makhanda and Bloomfield a chance to see what the environment is like in both communities.”

Soto also had a great interaction on the street with some local folks. He saw two people who were trying to fix a giant pothole in the street. 

Soto is an advocate for the goals that Inkululeko are trying to achieve. Soto spent time with learners in their classroom observing how they go about their studies. He would go on and help teach the learners (students) some 2D animation. 

 “It feels good to teach the learners something while I was down there,” said Soto. “They don’t have enough math teachers. Some of them had to share laptops with each other since there isn’t enough technology for everyone to get one. We are all here to learn and I’m just grateful for the trip and happy I got to help in the way that I did.”

Even though Soto is no longer in South Africa he still finds ways to support from Bloomfield any chance he can. 

“I donate books whenever I get the chance to,” Soto explained. “If I had the money and resources, I would build a school for them and hire as many teachers as they needed as well as all the technology needed to give them the best chance at learning and being successful.”

By: Khyree Brookins