They’re moving our world

(Canscene) — Once again Canadian documentary film maker Lalita Krishna has captured the spirit of concern shown by young Canadians for Third World children.

In Move Your World, chosen for debuting at this year’s Sprockets Film Festival on April 29th and scheduled for later screening by TVOntario, Krishna’s camera travels with three Canadian teenagers to Tanzania where they can observe first hand the devastation wrought by the AIDS epidemic.

The three are Marie from Whitehorse and Chamada and Kourish from Toronto. They were winners of last year’s Butterfly 208 competition sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA). Marie submitted a short story, while the two boys partnered in a rap number. The subject was creating awareness of AIDS.

Marie, Chamada and Kourish

From left, Chamada, Kourish and Marie with student friends

Travelling with chaperones they visit a high school in Dar-es-Salaam, an AIDS hospice and go on a brief safari. Their journey leaves them with the firm resolve to return to Canada and further their work on behalf of AIDS victims.

This is Krishna’s fifth film involving the participation of Canadian youngsters in Third World projects. The first, Ryan’s Well depicted the struggle of a preteener to raise funds to build a well for villagers in Uganda. Sweatin’ It showed how two Toronto teenagers worked with Olympic Wrestler Daniel Igali to build a school in Nigeria. Chaos, Chords and Karma records a trip by eight Toronto youngsters to India; their visit involves them in giving a concert to aid street children in Delhi. Jambo Kenya featured another school building project. All films have been shown widely through Canada and in the US, Europe, and Far East, and have won numerous awards, such as The Chris Statuette, twice nominated for the Japan Prize, best film at the Hope and Dreams festival among others.

Lalita Krishna says: “Showcasing positive stories about youth in a world in which we’re bombarded with media images of youth and violence, is a reward in itself. When the public endorses these films through packed screenings and awards, its a bonus and helps me create more stories in this genre”.

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