Special Events in Kenya!!

We are gathering in Kenya for three VERY special events!

On December 1st (World AIDS Day), the US Embassy will be hosting a special screening of "A Grandmother's Tribe" in Nairobi.  We are thrilled to be bringing the film home to Africa and once again reuniting friends and colleagues from Voiceless Children and Borderless Productions.

Then, on December 3rd, there will be an outdoor screening of the film in Kibera which will honour grandmother families living in difficult urban conditions in sub-Saharan Africa.

And then finally, on December 5th, the film will journey to the western rural village of Funyula, Kenya for a first-ever film screening in the community.

We will be filming the events and interviewing many of the people who are featured in the film to check in with their life stories since the original filming in December, 2006.

We hope that internet connections will let us share photos of our journey "home to Africa"!

Inspiring Young People...

(REPORT from Susie Banfield, Voiceless Children US)

The presentation of "A Grandmother's Tribe" to a local Idaho youth group (Grades 9 to 12), on Sunday, October 5th, was an inspiration to both myself and the eager young viewers.  As I sat among the group after the film's screening, I learned that our younger generation is not out of touch with the world, but are caring and concerned about our shared future.  When asked about how the film affected them, here are some of the comments received.

The film was about respect for the older generation and respect for each other.  It made me think about how I respect my elders.

It showed me what great love they have for family and each other.

It made me think about myself and where I'm headed in life.  It is so much easier for me to make those decisions than those who have less.

We are lucky here in this country... that we have so many advantages, even if our families are not wealthy.

I learned that we should appreciate the fact that we can go to the store and buy a chicken... and not have to share it with eight people.

It makes me thankful that I can take a shower every day and that I don't have to walk so far just to water for drinking and washing.

It made me want to go to Kenya and help those less fortunate.

I believe that the meaning that young viewers experienced is valuable to them and that reaching across the world to share this human insight is powerful.  As we move forward in screening "A Grandmother's Tribe", we will continue our tireless efforts to raise the funding necessary to ensure a hopeful future for these amazing elder women and the grandchildren in their care.

Please contact us directly if you would like to arrange a a special screening of this film!!

In the US... susieatvoiceless@aol.com

"A Grandmother's Tribe" Screening -- Long Beach, Washington

A special screening of "A Grandmother's Tribe", to benefit Voiceless Children, will be held in Long Beach, Washington on June 19th.

DETAILS...

Thursday, June 19th at 8:30pm
Neptune Theater, 809 Ocean Beach Boulevard
Long Beach WA 98631
360-642-8888 (theater #)

Admission by donation.

For directions to the theater, link here.

For background on the film, click here.

"Living in the Bucket"... WINNER!!

Sunday, June 1st, 2008... The youth-produced, seven-minute documentary, "Living in the Bucket", was named 2008 Winner of the Shortie Awards, Teacher Category!! 

The young Kibera residents, who filmed and edited the film, range in age from 9 to 19 years.

Congratulations!! We're so proud of your spirit to make a difference in the world!!

Short Documentary Award Finalist!!

Voiceless Children has just learned that its youth film project, "Living in the Bucket", has been selected as a finalist in the 7th Annual Shortie Awards in Washington, DC!!

Congratulations, Felix Masi and the Voiceless Children film team (ages 9-19)!!!

Comment from FELIX MASI...

I must say it is always a great honor for to be able to nurture and share ideas with young people from under privileged society. This award comes at a time when Africa and the media is struggling to tell it’s own story from the experience of loss and challenges as well as resilience and hope.
“Living in the Bucket” Is a film I believe will trigger a response and demonstrate the efforts of Kibera youth in their quest to clean their environment.
The world over now faces the reality of climate change. The solution, I believe, begins with ourimmediate environment... our neighborhoods.
I want to thank Listen Up! Learning Matters Inc. (Austin), Voiceless Children Kibera youth filmmakers, my family, the Voiceless Children "family" and Borderless Productions for bringing us to this nomination.