We partnered with NeeNee Productions to empower and collaborate with Wimana Beatrice, an aspiring journalist and Congolese refugee, in LAUNCHING, PROMOTING, and DISTRIBUTING her self-directed and award-winning documentary “Life in My Shoe”. | July 2019 – Congo & Uganda
$1,530 Donated!
October, 2019 Update:
Beatrice’s film was accepted into the Full Bloom Festival in Statesville, North Carolina and screened in September. Gayle and Favourite were able to travel to North Carolina and join Beatrice as she attended and presented at her first festival! Her daughter, Evelyn, was right there on stage with her powerhouse mama as Beatrice shared her story in front of a full house just weeks after being resettled to the US. Beatrice talked about about feeling “big” as she spoke publicly, and already had ideas about the next film she wants to make! The director of the festival was very touched and had some really encouraging feedback for Beatrice about her film. We were able to use some of the fundraised money to make this happen, so thank you!
WHY this is so IMPACTFUL & IMPORTANT …
When we join this endeavor, we become a VITAL PART of bringing this film into the world! This film is incredibly special, as it is very rare indeed for stories about refugees to be told BY refugees themselves. We also get to be a part of UPLIFTING an emerging filmmaker as she seeks to educate people about the realities facing refugee women and inspire many others to greatness!
Beatrice grew up in Kyangwali Refugee Settlement. Through a film and journalism training program in the settlement, she directed a short documentary about her life. As Beatrice has continued pursuing education and sharing her story, she has become a role model for other young women in the settlement who can start to envision lives of agency and inspiration. The ripple effects from lifting up the voice of a young woman can be profound, impacting her own self-efficacy, modeling new possibilities for her community, and transforming perspectives of people around the world.
We have the extraordinary opportunity to help share this critically important story through the eyes of the woman who lived it. These funds provide financial support for festival submissions, help to create promotional materials, and expand the film’s impact and accessibility to more places around the world. By sharing her story as widely as possible, we can help alter the way the world thinks about refugees and support the career of a talented and visionary young journalist.
CREATIVE ways to CONTINUE to support this organization …
- DONATE HERE. A few creative ideas for GIVING: ASK FOR A DONATION to be made as a gift for your next birthday … GIVE a gift in honor of someone you love for an upcoming holiday or celebration. FORM A TEAM on Facebook or GoFundMe and raise funds for a special occasion or celebration in your life … or just because you want to!
- SEND this post to 5 people you think would be inspired and want to join the fun!
- KNOW anyone in the film production, distribution, education world? Send them this project and let’s see how we can EXPAND this film’s connections!
- CONNECT with, friend, & follow. Instagram | Facebook | Website – Life in my Shoe is a collaborative film made through the Refugee Youth Voices Project, a locally-led film and journalism training for young refugees in collaboration with NeeNee Productions.
- WATCH THE REPLAY of our Seeds Storyteller Series with “Life in My Shoe” filmmakers below with the “Life in My Shoe” filmmaking team. Get ready to learn, be inspired, and discover more of your own story! Facebook | YouTube
JOIN US as an EVERYDAY PHILANTHROPIST …
As part of our call to all to be an everyday philanthropist, each month I spotlight a project or program in the world. Our partner’s focus is in at least one of these five categories: human rights, education, health, community emergencies, and art-activism. I am blessed with a huge pool of changemakers in my community – so there is never a lack of trusted organizations with whom to partner.
This sort of “everyday philanthropy” is about an unrestrained generosity rooted in the reality of your everyday life. Generosity feels good. It is part of your purpose on the planet. It finds ways to share with others the treasure trove of whatever you have and whatever you love. It makes a difference with your small and large acts alike … living with a commitment and connection to your sisters and brothers near and far. Explore and discover your unique – right here and now – calling to be an everyday philanthropist today.
I get it: These stories and the very invitation to give and to BE philanthropists isn’t always comfortable. Or easy. Sometimes it’s the world’s pain pricking our hearts that wakes us up to see – and say yes! – to our destiny.
So, today and together, let’s dispute the suggestion that philanthropy is an exclusive club only for those deemed wealthy. Today and together, let’s dispute that the only thing that matters and makes a difference is giving in “big” ways. The movement that will be unleashed when we live as generously unrestrained philanthropists WILL light up the world.
You are loved.
We belong to each other.
Let’s standTALL together and light up the world!
xo, -Sarah Davison-Tracy, Seeds of Exchange
