The Need for FilmAid
Intellectual, visual and aural stimulation are needs often overlooked in humanitarian responses where the first priority is naturally given to legal and physical protection, subsistence, and health care. As displaced populations languish in camps, the erosion of cultural norms and community environment further aggravates health and social problems. By packaging taboo subjects within entertainment, tough issues can be destigmatized. FilmAid's programs address critical health and social issues such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, cholera, sexual and domestic violence, reproductive health and family planning.
FilmAid's programs achieve both positive immediate change as well as providing enduring long-term impact. In the short term, individuals experience psychological relief from the harsh realities of their existence and obtain constructive knowledge and skills. In the long term, the films offer individuals a broader view of the world, an opportunity to imagine other futures for themselves and a vision for how they can make a difference in their communities. Effective interventions, which engage people in constructive activities, can maximize other core investments made in health care, conflict resolution, reconciliation, repatriation and community development.
Recently, FilmAid has enhanced its programs to include working with communities in needs in East Africa, in addition to working with refugee populations.
"FilmAid makes people happy; it makes people come together in peace. It also shows people movies on conflict resolution and people have greatly changed; less conflicts between people in the camp and among the ethnic groups of Sudan."
- Sudanese Refugee, Kakuma
"FilmAid helps people, especially when you are sad and FilmAid shows very entertaining films or a film that educates individuals on an area where he/she has a problem. The person will be healed as he reflects and thinks about it, and have a self consultation to solve a problem by himself."
- Sudanese Refugee, Kakuma
"The idea of FilmAid is divine. if FilmAid had been thought of at the start of the camp, there would be less traumatized and mentally challenged people in Kakuma. People find an avenue to release tension and explore with their brains at the screening."
- Burundian Refugee, Kakuma
