Transform Lives of African Youth by Making Films

 In 2009, when Hot Sun Foundation contemplated moving from a program based in Kibera, (a slum in Nairobi, Kenya), offering film screenings, short term training, workshops, special events and street theatre to providing comprehensive hands-on training in filmmaking, our first thought was to involved local professionals from film and media. Hands-on filmmaking training was seldom practiced in training institutes in East Africa. Most of the training was theoretical. We were determined to be different. Not just because we were working with youth in slums, but also because we wanted to offer quality filmmaking training that would equip youths to make films.

 We invited film and media professionals to our very modest office and training centre. To our great satisfaction, many well-known professionals came to our orientation meeting and said they embraced the concept.

 Yes, they embraced the concept, but putting it into practice was another issue. We called professionals from film and media to teach specific classes on specific days at specific times. Very few of them had had any past teaching experience. Very few of them had worked in urban slum settings with youth with limited formal education.

 Professionals would agree to a certain class but then at the last minute could not show up. Usually because they had a paying gig. Most professionals in film and media in Kenya are self-employed and/or work on a project basis. If a project comes up, they have to take it to survive.  Our filmmaking training paid a very minimum wage plus they had to travel to the urban slum plus they had to work with urban slum youth plus they had to try to familiarize themselves with our curriculum. That was asking a lot. Perhaps too much.

 So what happened? Over time as we trained urban youth in filmmaking, most of whom got jobs or projects in the mainstream media in Kenya, some of the graduates of our Foundation in Filmmaking program became the core of our trainers.

 We still reach out to industry professionals, but now more as mentors. Our core trainers are our graduates who are willing and able to return to teach others.

 Unfortunately, this virtuous cycle may come to an end in 2014. Our major grant is ending. It costs about USD$395 per month per trainee for our four month Foundation in Filmmaking program.

 With your support, we will be able to continue.

 The very BEST time to donate would be Bonus Day (Wed. 15 October) when your contribution will be matched 30%.

Mark your calendars and don't forget to donate on Bonus Day Wed. 15 October. 

 BUT ANY TIME and ANY AMOUNT is a good time to donate.

To keep young filmmakers training urban slum youth in Kenya, donate at http://goto.gg/3632

 Your support is  always appreciated.

Thank you.

Links:

• Hot Sun Foundation website
• Hot Sun Film School website
• Hot Sun Film School blog

Movie Madness Part 2: Denis comes to Nairobi

When I told my mother I wanted to move to Nairobi from the small town of Muranga’a to become a filmmaker she was very upset. She was scared and worried that something would happen to me and that I was going to get lost in the big city just by myself.

I was the only son still at home, the youngest, too. But I really wanted to join the Hot Sun Foundation Film school, so she called her aunt to organize a place for me to stay. I live in Kaloleni now with my uncle. I’ve never met him before but we get along very well. My mum and I talk on the telephone almost every day. She got used to the idea that I live in Nairobi now and she is proud of what I’m doing.

I want to try to change the mentality of people in this country. I don’t like it. Everything is just about money. It’s sometimes a very selfish society.

I’d like to hit topics with my films that manage to open people’s eyes. That’s why I am mostly interested in scriptwriting and editing. Scriptwriting gives me control about the theme, the idea and the words that are used in the movie. And editing gives me the opportunity to put the idea I had in mind into vision.

Your support makes it possible for youth like Denis to learn filmmaking at the only hands-on filmmaking training centre for youth who have the talent but not the funds to learn filmmaking. 

 Over 75 youth have learned filmmaking at Hot Sun Foundation and are working in the Kenya media industry.

 Our major grant ends this year.  We need your support to keep our doors open. 

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Don’t Miss This Special Opportunity:

 All recurring donations made by 10 September WEDNESDAY will be DOUBLED.

Sign up to make a donation of any amount, once a month for at least four months, and it will be DOUBLED.

 For example, if you donate $25 for four months (or $100), Hot Sun Foundation will receive $200!

Donate today at    http://www.goto.gg/3632

THANKS for all you do!

Links:

• Hot Sun Film School website
• Hot Sun Foundation website
• Short films by Hot Sun Film School trainees