Refugee Rights Jordan Project #40933

A film to amplify refugee teenage girls education

by Home Storytellers - fiscally sponsored by 501c3 nonprofit, Empowerment WORKS

A film to amplify refugee teenage girls education

Project Report | Mar 10, 2020
Update on Upcoming Sawdust Film

By Francisco Alcala | Executive Director

As a reminder, the objective of this project is to significantly increase the number of refugees receiving vocational education at the Dzaleka refugee camp in Malawi. Graduating from this training increases refugees chances of becoming self-reliant at the camp and better prepared for repatriation of resettlement.

So, the question is how Home Storytellers does that? Have you ever watched a documentary film and at the end say I will do something about it. If it is about an enviromental issue, you might say I will stop using plastic bags or buy products only from enviromentally friendly companies. You might also say, I will donate to a nonprofit that is doing something about the issue. Documentary films are very effective way to inform the minds and hearts of people to take action on an issue.

That is what we do. We are expert visual storytelllers telling stories of refugees empowered by great self-reliance solutions. That is the case of Jacques. His life significantly improved when he graduated from carpentry training by our partner organization There is Hope. While Jacques is still living with his family at the Dzaleka camp, the income they receive from Jacques' carpentry shop, allows them to live a dignified life.

Telling Jacques' story will bring more resources to There is Hope to scale their vocational programs. Like Jacques' many more refugees will be empowered to become self- reliant.

HOME STORYTELLERS DONATES THE FILMS TO OUR PARTNER ORGANIZATION

For that reason we need your support to produce the film. We are sending the film crew of four to Malawi at the end of April. Of course that involves flights, food, accomodations, transportation, film equipment, insurance, etc.

Some people aks themselves why not to donate directly to There is Hope. Of course that is a good option too. However, right now There is Hope needs this film. Once the film is completed we are targeting $300,000 USD incremental funding to There is Hope from Foundations, donors, businesses, and maybe even governments. So think this way, one dollar you give to make this film will yield 6 dollars of incremental funding to There is Hope's vocational trainign programs. Great impact of your money.

For you information GlobalGiving will match online donations up to $50 at 50% the week of March 23 -27. It will be a great way to increase your impact.

Thank you!

THE HOME STORYTELLERS TEAM.

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Dec 12, 2019
We have an important story to tell with our upcoming film Sawdust.

By Francisco Alcala | Home Storytellers Executive Director

Dzaleka Refugee Camp

When we wrote the last report we were at the Dzaleka Refugee Camp in Malawi. We told you that we were meeting with refugees whose lives have been positively influenced by the vocational education program by our grassroots partner There is Hope. After listening to three compelling stories we had to decide on one for our film. It was such a difficult decision that we had a hard time sleeping the night before.

We are very happy to report that we selected the story of Jacques Kabongo. He had a good life. Happily married with two children and a job in an NGO defending democracy and human rights. After a traumatic and violent near-death experience in his home country the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jacques saw no option but to take his family and flee for their safety. In 2013, they arrived in the Dzaleka camp. Jacques had no means of earning money and to survive he began molding bricks to sell at the camp. They lived in a small, shabby, grass thatched home with no electricity. Sending their children to school was a major challenge and they depended on food rations by UNHCR in order to survive. With no hope of ever becoming self-reliant, Jacques heard about vocational training programs and decided to apply. He got accepted into the carpentry training and successfully graduated. While Jacques, his wife Esther, and their 6 children continue to patiently wait in the tough camp conditions for resettlement, their life changed dramatically. Jacques opened a carpentry shop and was able to send his children to school again. He has given his family a better life in a new home he built with his own hands. Jacques is also very passionate about giving back to his community and has three 16-year-old apprentices learning and working in his shop. He has given them hope and a way to a better future.

It is critical to tell Jacques’ story to create awareness and increase resources to the needed educational programs at the Dzaleka camp. Jacques’ story is a proof that education makes refugees’ permanence more bearable and increase their chances to become self-reliant within the camp. Having education will also prepare them to economically contribute to their host country when they resettle. We will tell the story with the upcoming short film Sawdust: Rebuilding an Existence. Please watch the film pitch here.

Our plan is to go back to Malawi with the film production crew in April or May 2020. For this we need to reach our $25,000 funding goal. Thank you for helping making this film possible!!

Check out our Instagram for more updates and stories about the project.

Interviewing Jacques Kabongo

Home Storytellers team with Jacques' Family

Home Storytellers team preparing for filming

Links:

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Sep 16, 2019
And off we are to...MALAWI!

By Francisco Alcala | Executive Director

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