FilmAid Bringing Film to Refugees

FilmAid has implemented a variety of programmes to address the needs of the communities it serves. Its "Outdoor Evening Screenings" take place several nights per week and have reached up to 30,000 people in one evening. FilmAid's "Daytime Screenings" are followed by group discussions intending to enable deeper discussion about topics of concern. The "Participatory Video Program" for young people and "Community-Based Video Program" teach individuals filmmaking skills that help them develop videos that are shown to thousands throughout the camps. Topics addressed in these videos include: conflict resolution and peace building; health education (e.g., HIV/AIDS, cholera, and malaria prevention); landmine awareness; prevention of sexual abuse and gender-based violence among women and girls; repatriation information; and more.

The Participatory Video Project (PVP) puts video cameras into the hands of refugee youth, enabling them to tell their own stories. The organisers say that recording their experiences and ideas on tape has encouraged critical awareness, stimulated individual development, and worked as a catalyst for interaction and cooperation. The videos that the youths create are often shared with their communities at FilmAid's evening screenings.

"Through PVP, refugee youths gain a voice, as well as an expanded sense of possibility and a boost in confidence. The psychological and empowering benefits of programmes like PVP that teach creativity have been widely documented and acclaimed."

During the evening screenings, the feature film presentation is preceded by a short educational film or public service announcement. Most features are African-made and deal with a variety of topics relevant to refugees, such as teen pregnancy and African history, HIV/AIDS, conflict resolution, and gender-based violence.

Short videos and films are shown in community and youth centres to smaller groups of refugees. Focusing on particular audiences, such as women or children, FilmAid's daytime screenings reinforce and complement specific education, health, and skills training programmes run by the International Rescue Committee (IRC), United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), and other aid agencies.

Conflict, Health, Gender, Malaria and Cholera, Repatriation, Children's Rights, Family Planning, Substance Abuse, Landmine Awareness, Environmental Awareness, and HIV/AIDS.

The screening sessions focus on problems that are acute in the camps, such as sexual and gender-based violence, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS.

FilmAid places the focus on awareness and prevention, with additional sessions on peace education and reconciliation among the differing ethnic groups.

A group of refugee leaders help FilmAid International select films and videos that would be appropriate for refugee circumstances in East Africa. All films are non-violent and appropriate for their communities.

Types of films shown:

• Educational films on issues including health, HIV/AIDS and other infectious diseases, and domestic violence;
• African feature films;
• Entertaining films for psychosocial stimulation of children, including cartoons and silent films;
• Public service announcements; and
• African feature films.