Robert Szustkowski has been appointed as an ambassador of the Aldeas Scholas Project – a global film initiative inspired by Pope Francis and renowned director Martin Scorsese. The decision by the leadership of Pontificia Scholas Occurrentes– a papal organization dedicated to supporting education, social integration, and development – comes as a result of the Polish philanthropist’s commitment to the project’s implementation in Africa, specifically in The Gambia. There, Szustkowski is coordinating collaboration with filmmakers representing the African continent.
This effort is part of a long-term program promoting physical health in The Gambia (Szustkowski also serves as an ambassador for the 5P Europe Foundation), which has been officially blessed by the Pope during the International Summit of World Leaders for Children’s Rights. Szustkowski emphasizes that he deeply values the opportunity to contribute to a vision of the world that respects human dignity, rights, and individual freedom, while also nurturing the potential of young talents. As project co-creator Martin Scorsese stated: “Now, more than ever, we must speak with each other and listen to one another across cultural boundaries.”
The Aldeas Scholas Project, which merges two realms – cinematic art and spirituality – aims to produce the film Aldeas – A New Story, an emotionally powerful documentary that will serve both as a record of Pope Francis’s final full-length interview and as a manifesto for human dialogue.
A central feature of Aldeas – A New Story will be short films created by young filmmakers from Italy, The Gambia, and Indonesia – participants of the Aldeas Initiative program. Their task is to present local stories, cultural roots, and personal life experiences. These productions are intended to act as a bridge between different communities and as testimony to the power of youthful creativity.
In an official letter to the Polish philanthropist, the leadership of Pontificia Scholas Occurrentes expressed hope that the support in The Gambia will enable a broader initiative across the African continent. “We believe that our shared journey and mutual recognition can help build a culture of dialogue, transforming not only individual lives but societies around the world,” emphasized Jose Maria del Corral, President of Pontificia Scholas Occurrentes.
Although the exact release date of the film has yet to be announced, experts predict that Aldeas – A New Story may become one of the most anticipated documentaries works of the coming years.
Among the ambassadors of Scholas Occurrentes are well-known politicians, athletes, and actors, including George Clooney, Lionel Messi, Bono, Gianluigi Buffon, and former President of Indonesia Megawati Sukarnoputri.
