­­

(VNF) – Through making movies, the project “Connecting and Creating Leader” brought to children and adolescences in the Northern highland chance to raise their voice on various issues, from family relationships, friendship to social affairs such as gender equality, pollution and human trafficking.

Movie making is an activities launched as part of the project “Connecting and Creating Leader”, implemented by ChildFund Vietnam in three provinces: Hoa Binh, Cao Bang and Bac Kan, with the sponsorship from the Australian government's Direct Aid Program (DAP).

Being kick started in September 2017 in Hoa Binh province, the activity provided young participants with first-hand experiences in every step of a movie-making process, including script writing, directing, acting, editing, with the use of digital technology.

Filmmakers from Du Sang commune (Kim Boi district, Hoa Binh province) (photo: ChildFund)

More importantly, throughout the process, the participants had chance to enrich themselves with valuable soft skills such as team work, leadership skills, self-protection skills.

Their efforts have resulted in 12 outstanding movies which were introduced in the film festival event themed: “Small step toward big change” held in Cao Bang city (Cao Bang province) from March 16-18.

The short movies (3-5 mins) aimed to enhance the participation and self-representation of children in the family, school and the community.

Students participating in the film festival. (photo: Phi Yen)

After taking part in two seasons of the film making activity, the young participants have, step by step, affirmed their self-confidence and proactiveness. “I seldom bumped onto obstacles while working as the cameraman this time, thanks to the experiences obtained from the previous season”, said Nong Nguyen Ngoc Huy (15, Tay ethnic group), from Tu Do commune, Quang Uyen district, Cao Bang province.

Another member of Huy’s crew, Hoang Thi Que (16, Nung ethnic group), said, the project has brought her and friends the chance to connect with others and voice up their opinions on issues of common concerns, which make children and teenagers like her feel being respected.

In addition to conveying the thoughts of highland students on daily life issues like relationships in the family, friendship, the young film makers even ventured into burning issues of the society such as gender equality, early marriage, human trafficking.

Remarkably, some films reflect the positive change in the life of children and local people such as the movie “My village’s ditch”, made by students from Hanh Phuc commune, Quang Uyen district (Cao Bang province). The movie told the story of how a water sanitation project launched by ChildFund has supplied clean water for 145 households in the commune.

“The movie making activities were conducted in a children-friendly manner, which helps them gain more confidence and improve their observation skills, the capability of selecting the appropriate topics, and producing movies with high value of information for people, including the local authorities,” said Hoang Ngoc Hung, Vice Chair of Lang Ngam commune’s People’s Committee, Ngan Son district, Bac Kan province.

Representative of organizing board presents “Best film voted by audience” for students from Na Khoang primary and secondary school (Ngan Son, Bac Kan). (Photo: Phi Yen).

Since 2016, the project “Connecting and Creating Leader” have provided opportunities for around 300 youths (age 8-24) to express their viewpoints on concerned issues via making movie.

The goal of the project is to “reinforce the participation, self-representation of the youth to help them gain a positive view toward the future and inspire others in the community.”

The project is currently implemented in 12 communes in Kim Boi district (Hoa Binh), Ngan Son district (Bac Kan), and Quang Uyen district (Cao Bang), and will be carried on until September 2019./.

( Phi Yen )