In September 2018, the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea was opened for the first time in 20 years, giving communities on both sides the chance to reconnect and move on with their lives.

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Travel, trade, and phone communication had been impossible, separating families and destroying businesses, but the border town of Zalambessa began to transform. Trade, construction, family lives blossomed.

Yet, official checkpoints soon closed again for trade and vehicles due to political uncertainty. Border movement continues informally, on foot only. Hope and optimism remains, but now there is also frustration for families and despair for businesses.

In this film we follow the lives of a young Ethiopian family with relatives living on both sides of the border. We join them to celebrate the baptism of their first born son, and learn about their work and hopes about the future.

They are joined by a family photographer who has lived in Zalambessa all his life, and we meet an Eritrean businessman who is building a hotel in the town in hope that it remains hub for both Ethiopians and Eritreans.

Watch more films from our Life Changes documentary series, exploring how we respond to the changes in the world around - and how we change our lives:    • Life changes  

Director, producer: Dawn Lake
Associate producer: Rob Wilson
Camera: Nick Bennett
Edit: Amanda Gunn

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