Film-maker Christopher Nicholas flew in from the UK to run a groundbreaking video project for ASAP in the Eastern Cape, helping to uplift young lives both in front of the camera and behind, and in the process produce a number of powerful videos spotlighting ASAP’s work.
“I took a community development approach involving the communities themselves as much as possible in the scripting, shooting and editing of the videos,” Says Chris. “I trained young people in video production skills, and spent quality time with the home based carers, shadowing and getting a deeper appreciation of their work.”
Hands on experience
Taking a wide-shot of the Itekeng community care centre
Chris made the video for our New York fundraiser, as well as recording a number of recitals in the Itekeng – Mamohau Poetry Competition, including the winning poem ‘Dead be not proud’ by Nonceba, a teenager from Itekeng.
Nonceba (Left) proudly showing off the trophy that she won for her powerful poem “Death be not proud”,
With all the extreme heartache, pain and loss that the AIDS pandemic brought to Nonceba’s life, and millions around her, you can truly see that this poem provided a much needed release of anger against the ‘Death’ that has stalked her community for so long, an expression made all the more extraordinary when you consider that English is not her first language.
Trying desperately not to laugh
You can watch all the finished results on the African Solutions Youtube Channel, and read Chris’s fascinating blog at ‘On the road with Chris’?
A wonderful way to tell your story
The results could be instantly fed back to the community and the film-makers
Getting behind the project