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Empowering Youth

Leaving everything behind to start over again in a strange new world is no easy feat, and one that many would prefer not to do. But once they have reached the new world, how do they develop the skills and connections they need to start building their future?

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.

Participants of the Documentary Impact Challenge learning about how the course will proceed

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.

Youth practicing interview and camera set ups

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.

How We Can Help

We know that for refugees the challenges don't necessarily stop once they become "statushouders". Integrating into the local communities - building connections and finding work, or taking next steps in education, etc., are all areas where they may continue to struggle for some time. Hopefully what our program aims to offer youth is apparent from the text above, and while this isn't the solution to everything they are facing, it gives them the opportunity to:

build skills,
explore potential career opportunities,
connect with local community members,
and, gain confidence and a positive outlook.

Our program doesn't guarantee work; however, in addition to the hard skills like camera operation and video editing, our program helps develop soft skills such as project planning, networking and communication, which can give them a boost as they continue their job search.

As noted above, our goal is for participants to make documentaries about local community members & organizations, building those crucial links within the community that can be a gateway to finding employment and a place in the community. For AMV en ex-AMV, our program can also provide the opportunity for them to explore a career they are interested by making a documentary about a business or person in that field, developing an insight into what working in that field looks like, how to get started, etc, giving them a clearer path to further study.

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!

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

Email

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!