Video Will Document Educational Needs of Refugee Kids

What does a child experience in a refugee camp where there is no formal school and plenty of idle time every day? A documentary to be produced this summer will capture the refugee crisis in Greece from a child’s viewpoint and will show the need for Beyond Borders’ educational programs.

In July 2018, Mrs. Faten AlFaraj, TeachBeyond associate and film producer, will spend two weeks in Greece where she will document the educational crisis faced by refugee children on the island of Lesvos. Her production will highlight the young refugees' educational needs and dreams for the future. The project will result in a full-length documentary for awareness and fundraising events, and a short video that can be shown to churches, schools, and groups of people interested in helping support the education needs of refugee children.

TeachBeyond is raising funds for this project and is looking for volunteers who can help with the production. A camera operator and sound engineer are needed. The initial cost is estimated at $6,000 for renting the camera and sound equipment, plus Faten’s travel to Lesvos. Beyond Borders is able to provide $2,500 toward this initial phase.

After the field work is completed, Beyond Borders will need post-production staff to edit the documentary and short video. The budget for completing and marketing the documentary is estimated to be $25,000.

As an Arab woman skilled in the art of respectful and therapeutic listening, the interaction Faten will have with the children whose lives she will be documenting in and of itself provides a tremendous opportunity for this project to become an educational and healing tool.

To financially support this documentary or to sign up to be part of the production team, please contact Liz Steggall-Lewis, [email protected].