Our full subsite is on the way!
Empowering Youth
What We Offer
At the core of our approach is a desire to help youth build confidence in their skills and a clearer picture of their future, while establishing links within the community.
Skills Development
Making a documentary is more than pointing a camera at something and hitting record; well, at least not with our approach.
Next to the technical skills like camera handling and working in video editing software, our program also emphasizes soft skills such as:
planning & project management
storytelling
interview skills
research
This combination builds a broad set of skills that prepare youth for a wide range of career opportunities.
Community Connection
We are striving to build bridges between youth and the community. We are building a list of community members who are willing to be documentary subjects for our participants, whether it be a former refugee who is willing to tell their story in front of the camera or a local business owner that our youth can make a documentary about as a way to explore a career path they are interested in.
By having a list of community members who are open and ready to be approached by our participants, we remove one of the scariest barriers for people: the cold contact. Because our youth know that these members are open and willing, it's not quite as terrifying making that first phone call or sending that first email.
Maatschappelijke Diensttijd
Our initiative is funded through the Maatschappelijke Diensttijd, where the three pillars of skills development, meaningful encounters and doing something for another, are central.
Our program reflects all three of these pillars:
We help youth develop useful skills, regardless of whether they see filmmaking as a career path or not
We strive to connect participants with people in the community to build meaningful relationships
While our community members help us through volunteering their stories and their time, our participants are making films to share their stories to a larger audience, for business a form of advertising, for someone else with a story to tell, a way to preserve that story for future generations - thus doing something for someone else.
This relationship is certainly not one-sided. We learn just as much, building our skills and knowledge while having meaningful encounters with community partners and youth, so in a way, we are as much beneficiaries as we are providers!
One of the key benefits of being able to offer our course free to youth is that it levels the playing field, providing equal opportunities (gelijke kansen) for participations regardless of finances, background, life circumstances, etc.
Spotlight: Participant Documentary
Asal, 20, made this documentary about Abdul, a young Syrian man who fled Syria with his mom and siblings when he was 6 years old.
In this documentary, he shares his story - the process of coming here and his experiences being part of the Dutch community.
FAQ
Which ages are eligible to join?
Our target age group is 15 to 29, inclusive.
What does our program cost?
Our program is sponsored through the Maatschappelijke Diensttijd for youth who are registered and living in the Netherlands.
How does it support refugees?
It fosters skills and connections for a brighter future.
Are instructors refugees?
Yes, they share valuable experiences.
Is there a cost?
Participation is free for youth.
How to get involved?
Contact us to learn about opportunities.
Contact Us
partner@learnfilmmaking.nl
Questions? Interested in how we can work together? Just fill in this form or send us an email and we'll get in touch!
