FilmAid: The Power of Film
These unwanted acres of baron land are filled with the dry smell of dirt, drifting through each makeshift shelter with a cool breeze. As each year passes, hope of returning home is slowly overtaken by a more primal instinct: survival. The 86,000 refugees of Kakuma camp, located in the northern desert of Kenya, are forced to live with destitution. Even with the generous efforts of host communities and relief organizations the most basic of human needs are often in short supply. In a time of such heightened vulnerability wanting anything more seems inconsiderate. Yet, as time passes, the absence of mental stimulation and hope-lifting diversion begins to create a void. Social norms and sense of community erode away as the outside world becomes increasingly disconnected. For some, this is a life of displacement. For others, like children born in these camps, it’s the only life they’ve ever known.
Given the desperate state of Kakuma and camps like it throughout the world, the psycho-social needs of refugees are often a secondary concern. However, there is a unique distinction between enduring and living. FilmAid International goes beyond the narrow focus on physical and material needs by using visual arts to enrich the lives of those uprooted individuals Since its inception in 1999, the nonprofit organization has successfully launched programs in East Africa, Macedonia, and Afghanistan. FilmAid now works in global partnership with The United Nations High Commission for Refugees
FilmAid has often been a first opportunity for many refugees to experience recorded video entertainment. Imagine the heart-warming sound of uncontrollable laughter as a group of children, whose existence has been plagued by suffering, experience their first cartoon. Consider how contagious smiles spreading through a sea of faces could forever change hearing Bugs Bunny ask, “What’s Up Doc?”
FilmAid promotes unity through the joy of entertainment; a single film can transform a group of displaced strangers into a community of friends. Amusement is a primary goal but he organization has deeper aspirations to strengthen communities, promote health, restore dignity, and encourage empowerment. Above all, it fills the imagination with hope of a better life. Caroline Sanchez-Bernat, a FilmAid Communications Officer, describes the organization’s impact, “Many of the refugees were never given the opportunity to watch a film. Showing a film, such as a recent example, Mandela, allows them to see a person essentially no different from themselves making a significant impact on the world.” The educational films, dealing with relevant issues ranging from HIV/AIDS prevention to post-conflict resolution, are essential in improving the quality of life in the camps. To ensure direct relevance, the FilmAid field staff enlists the help of community members for program development. In turn, this equips them with valuable work skills and experience, normally unattainable given their present circumstances.
Until the natural disasters in the Gulf Coast region, the cruel reality of forced displacement was a distant thought for many Americans, as Sanchez-Bernat explains, “We tend to think of refugees as a foreign concept. When Katrina hit we realized it could happen to anyone; in a sense it helped us to realize we’re all one.” Without warning a vast number of Americans became part of the uprooted population. In response, FilmAid launched their first domestic program. Paying homage to the rich musical tradition of Louisiana, the event featured live musical performances and a screening of MAKE IT FUNKY! in association with Turner Classic Films.
Future efforts are now focused on the children displaced by Rita and Katrina, estimated by the U. S. Department of Education to be nearly 372,000. Drawing from the success of the Participatory Video Program in Kakuma, the No Place Like Home initiative creates the opportunity for young people throughout Mississippi and Louisiana to reflect on their experience through visual storytelling. Melissa Brough, FilmAid International New York Program Officer, comments on the significance of No Place Like Home,
“FilmAid believes in the power of video to engage young people, help them tell their stories, begin to heal, and inspire others. Youth can and should play a key role in the recovery and rebuilding process; empowering them to do so is our goal.”
FilmAidd and Barefoot Productions work in conjunction to train teens on the technical aspects of creating a film, then encourage them to independently tackle the creative process. The result, a much-needed voice for the youths forced into displacement. Upon completion the PVP will hold a series of screenings, culminating in a film exchange with PVP participants in the Kakuma refugee camp. The cross-cultural exchange is vital in the healing process as Brough explains, “Amidst the devastation of this ongoing crisis on the Gulf Coast, a unique opportunity arises: to cultivate a more meaningful understanding of forced displacement. The loss of home, family, community, and any sense of normalcy is a tragic reality faced by people across the globe, whether in impoverished or wealthy countries. Sharing stories is one way to start to restore the dignity of those who have lost just about everything.” FilmAId is truly a progressive advocate of human rights. Never before has the notion of escaping reality through the power of film had such a profound meaning.
For more, check out the FIlmAId featured video on the sidebar.
Published in Free Magazine Issue No. 9 Escape
