Funding and Donor News...
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Events to Benefit FilmAid
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 KENYA:
Somali Refugee Crisis
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An
intensification of the fighting within Somalia along with a prolonged
draught have worsened one of the most serious humanitarian crises in
the world. Since the beginning of 2009 alone, more than 50,000
new Somali civilians have fled to Kenya. The Dadaab refugee camp has
been receiving 6,400 Somalis every month. There are now more than
281,000 Somali refugees in Dadaab. This places an enormous strain on
the Dadaab camps as the complex is already housing three times the
population it was designed to hold.
UNHCR (the UN Refugee
Agency) has embarked on a program aimed at decongesting Dadaab, and has
transported almost 10,000 refugees to the camp in Kakuma.
However, with the continued influx from Somalia, the camp population in
Dadaab remains virtually unchanged.
FilmAid has responded
to this situation by increasing program activity in Dadaab.
Thanks to new funding from the US Department of State, ArtAction, the
Hollywood Foreign Press, the Academy Foundation, and UNHCR,
FilmAid will reach almost 100,000 Somali refugees this year with vital
information on health, human rights and more.
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HIV/AIDS Prevention
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| FilmAid
was fortunate to receive funding from the United States' PEPFAR
(President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) through the UNHCR to
develop films on protection from HIV/AIDS in Dadaab. In
conjunction with PEPFAR, 3 films were developed and are being used in
the community to educate Somali refugees about HIV/AIDS prevention. |
Safe Migration and Human Trafficking Awareness Project
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FilmAid
has partnered with the International Office for Migration (IOM) to
create one film to promote awareness on issues of safe migration and
human trafficking. FilmAid will screen the film in its refugee programs
in Kakuma and Dadaab refugee camps. |
West Pokot, Kenya
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In
partnership with HealthRight International, FilmAid developed 3 films
in the West Pokot region of Kenya. These films are the first ever
to be produced in the Pokot language, and focus on maternal and
neo-natal health. |
Kenyan Post Election Conflict
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We
are currently working with the Media Focus on Africa Foundation on a
series of films and discussions designed to build understanding and
tolerance between groups who have been in conflict following the Kenyan
elections of December 2007. This program has been presented in 7
different towns and will continue throughout 2009.
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THAILAND:
Thailand Project to Help Burmese Refugees
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FilmAid
has just completed a 3 month pilot project in Thailand, which is host
to approximately 150,000 registered refugees living along its western
border with Burma. With support from The Co-operative (based in the
United Kingdom) and the Dutch educational NGO, ZOA Refugee Care,
FilmAid's PVP group has produced three films addressing the issues of
alcohol, drugs and HIV/AIDS within the refugee community. These
films were made by Pwo Karen, Skaw Karen and Burmese PVP groups
respectively and will be screening in workshop environments within the
sheltered refugee and local communities. We are in the process of
seeking funding to continue this vital program.
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| Reel Vision Campaign: Help Us Reach Our Goal |
FilmAid
has launched its first general funding campaign - the "FilmAid Reel
Vision Capacity Building Fund" - to support exploration and development
of new programs in Kenya, East Africa and Southern Africa. As
soon as FilmAid achieves a goal of $400,000, a private foundation has
pledged to double its initial $50,000 gift. All submissions
through the FilmAid website support the Reel Vision Fund. To date
we have raised over 55% of this goal. Please contribute here and help FilmAid to help people in need throughout the world!
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| Diane von Furstenberg Cocktail Reception |
On
July 13th 2009, Diane von Furstenberg hosted a cocktail reception at
her New York City Studio. The event raised funds for FilmAid's work in
the Kakuma Refugee Camp in northern Kenya. Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, Senior
Policy Advisor at the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, joined Ms. von
Furstenberg and Caroline Baron (founder of FilmAid) to speak about the
work of FilmAid and the importance of supporting the organization's
efforts in Kenya. Furstenberg has also designed a special t-shirt to
support FilmAid's work with refugees in Kenya. This limited edition
t-shirt is 100% cotton and is available in women's and unisex styles.
Get yours here.
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Hollywood Foreign Press Association
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FilmAid has proudly been awarded a $50,000 gr ant from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. This is the 9th year that the HFPA has funded FilmAid. The grant will support the HFPA Kakuma Peace and Reconciliation Series for Sudanese refugees in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya and the Participatory Video Project for refugee youth.
The
award was presented August 11, 2009, at the Beverly Hills Hotel in Los
Angeles, and was accepted by the actor Dylan McDermott on behalf of
FilmAid.
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Cannes Young Lions Competition 2009
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 FilmAid
was honored to be selected as the chosen charity for the Cannes Young
Lions Competition which took place in Cannes, France, June 21-27.
Thirty six teams of young creatives from international advertising
agencies were given a brief to create a 30 or 60 second spot for
FilmAid. Guest speakers at the event included Kofi Annan, Bob
Geldoff, CEO's of Google and Microsoft, Spike Lee and others.
The
Gold Young Lions award went to Mexico, the silver to Canada and the
Bronze to Denmark. To see the winning team's short, please click here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_2VoWr6uwZg
The silver team's short is at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=scI9eIKITg8
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Skin
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 FilmAid
International UK (with ICA films) was proud to host the global premiere
of Anthony Fabian's award winning feature film "Skin" at the Odeon West
End in London on July 2, 2009. The film chronicles the true
story of Sandra Laing, a black girl born to white Afrikaner parents in
Apartheid South Africa. The screening was followed by a Q&A session
with cast members and Sandra Laing herself. |
Time Bandits
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On
June 29, 2009 FilmAid benefited from a special IN-House screening of
"Time Bandits" and tribute to Terry Gilliam. The screening took
place at The Electric Cinema in London. Guests included Eddie Izzard,
Tom Hollander, Lily Cole, Verne Troyer, Michael Edmunds, Sir Ian Holm,
Dan Macmillan and many more.
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Burma VJ
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 On
July 14, FilmAid International as co-beneficiary at the UK 'Saffron
Premiere' of Burma VJ, hosted at BAFTA by The Co-operative.
This
acclaimed documentary film is based on the efforts of Burmese video
journalists, whose footage, taken at great personal risk, brought Burma
to the attention of the global media in 2007. Speakers included Fashion
Designer Vivienne Westwood, Director Anders Stergaard, Paul Monaghan
from The Co-operative and Mark Farmaner from Burma Campaign UK.
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| Become a FilmAid Facebook Friend |
Help spread
awareness of FilmAid by becoming a fan of FilmAid on Facebook! Here
you can find hundreds of pictures of FilmAid's work as well as videos
highlighting our work. To join, click here! 
Also, check out our YouTube page!
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Help Us Continue Changing Lives
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How we put your donation to work:
$50 = Staff for two daytime screenings in Dadaab Refugee Camp
$100 = One month
of fuel to run evening screenings reaching 10,000 refugees
$150 = Transport, setup, and screening to 1,500 in Nairobi's Kibera Slum
$250 = One video camera and peripherals for youth video creation projects
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