Things are still going well with the project. We have finished editing and producing the film and we are now getting it out into the public. We have showed the documentary so far at a youth rally where over 250 middle school students had a chance to view the film and discuss the content. Over 20 copies have been taken to different high schools, middle schools and even elementary schools and shown to students in eastern Washington and all over Idaho. We are still trying to get the film viewed on a more national level, which is proving a challenge, but we're not giving up!
PLAN (Poverty Life And Need)
Submitted by katyrose7918 on Sun, 06/22/2008 - 10:52
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the problem:
The main problem we are trying to solve with our documentary is the lack awareness and our students have of poverty in the United States. Our school is Gonzaga Preparatory School in Spokane, Washington. It disturbed us when the students of the school described those in poverty as “lazy” or saying that the reason they are in difficult economic situations was because of some fault of their own. We believe that the students at our school, being in the upper/middle class of America and in a position to help those who are not as well-off, should know what is out there so that, when the time comes, they can help those who need it. In turn, we hope that this will assist in the fight against poverty overall.
vital stats:
people impacted:
400people involved:
10why it's important:
Through a combination of a student-directed documentary and interviews with real people who have gone through the problem of homelessness and poverty, we hope to touch the students at our school and drive them into action. If a bunch of adults put together a documentary and showed it to a group of kids, the kids will most likely tune it out or not take it seriously because it is from the point of view of an adult. But if students put together a documentary for students, it makes more sense; it makes more of an impact. The other part of our documentary that makes it powerful is the way we show, rather than tell. There is a big difference between being told about something and experiencing the thing itself. It is the same way with our project. We can tell students all we want that there is a problem and that it needs to be solved, but it is a whole other thing to show them the problem and how it affects people just like them.
the plan of action:
We began by taking surveys of the students at our school asking some quiz-like questions about poverty in the U.S. and asking what they think are the top three causes of homelessness. Our next step was to raise money for technology and traveling expenses. We make beaded jewelry and sell it at our local farmers market every Saturday, and tell those who purchase an item what we are using the money for. Next, we hope to contact many different organizations that help people ranging from children to those who are addicted to substances, and interview clients and volunteers at these organizations. We have already interviewed the executive director of the Trenton Area Soup Kitchen in Trenton, New Jersey. We have also contacted the executive director of Peace for the Streets by Kids from the Streets in Seattle, Washington and will be traveling there in a couple weeks for interviews. Once we have interviews completed, we hope to make the documentary. The documentary will be posted on youtube.com so that it is available to the public. Also, we are going to have a viewing for our entire school, asking for donations for the different organizations we feature in the interview. We also hope to show the documentary at different venues in the community to help educate and hopefully acquire more donations for the organizations we show in the film.
how you can get involved:
The best way for others to help right now is for them to be involved in the interviews; whether that be though being interviewed or by helping us find people to interview. Other ways for others to help is financially. We still need to buy editing software and some other technology stuff for our camera, such as an external microphone and new tapes. The last, and most important way, for people to help, is donate money for the organizations we are featuring in the documentary.
project updates:
08/03/2009
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Comments
Hi-- I am an elementary school principal in Post Falls, Idaho. I would very much like to communicate with a person from your group and may be interested in having someone come and speak to my students. Please email me at msurratt@sd273.com
My name is Mandy Surratt-- Principal, West Ridge Elem.
Hi,my name is Davaunia Wilson and Im am a student at the Mac Duffie School in Springfield, Massachusetts who is also working on a project like this. Do you have any ideas of how I should get started and things that i should consider?
Hi Davaunia,
The most general advise I can give without knowing more about your project is to just get out there and talk to as many people as you can. You never know what kind of support you can get from different people. Another thing that is really helpful is making a timeline for the project such as when you are going to have things done by, and then really sticking to it. Also, try to write proposals for grants. Funding is always good. I'd really like to hear more about your project! If you have any other more specific questions or anything just shoot me an email at kaitlyn.stewart@yotes.collegeofidaho.edu.