Marino conducts AIDS education workshop in small IDP camp.
I am very happy to report that I have completed the last of five shoots for YOUTH ZONES, a project I'm working on with the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and Women's Refugee Commission.
The project is an advocacy video and new media website that captures the amazing work that young people are doing to rehabilitate their communities after conflict and/or natural disaster. I have filmmed in Liberia, Colombia, Lebanon and New Orleans and as of yesterday, completed the segment in Northern Uganda.
What I have witnessed her is that although 20-years of war have kept young people from completing their education, getting health care services and threatened their safety (many have been abducted by rebels and held in captivity), there are many who are addressing the growing problem of the HIV/AIDS problem by becoming peer counselors, working in youth centers and helping those in camps get access to education, testing and condoms. The work they are doing in spite of the challenges they are facing post-conflict and amidst great poverty is inspiring and hopeful.
I'll be returning to NYC soon to start final editing of the project. The film is expected to be completed in late October and will be screened at conferences, festivals and gatherings as well as distributed to donors and policymakers to encourage more support for youth-driven programs. I'll post when the film is ready for distribution.
Denis is a former abductee whose mother died of AIDS and now helps his grandmothers take care of the family while he tries to complete his education.
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