FilmAid in East Africa
Bringing the Joy of Film to Refugees From Sudan, Burundi, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Somalia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Uganda
Background
Ongoing violent conflict and the persecution of individuals in central and eastern Africa have forced millions of civilians to flee their homes. Tanzania currently shelters over 600,000 refugees from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda and Somalia. Kenya hosts over 260,000 refugees from Sudan, Uganda, Rwanda, Somalia and Ethiopia. With no end in sight to the violence or conflict driving people from their villages, repatriation is not a safe option. For these reasons, the IRC and the UNHCR asked FilmAid International to extend its programs to Kenya and Tanzania.
In the fall of 2001, FilmAid International launched programming in the Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya, and in 2002 expanded to the camps of the Kibondo District in Tanzania. FilmAid also launches programs in Dadaab Camp, in Kenya, and is home to approximately 210,000 predominantly Somali refugees and other displaced peoples. All three programs have surpassed all expectations, drawing in average audiences of 10,000 people a night in Kenya, and up to 27,000 at a single screening in Tanzania.
CURRENT LOCATIONS IN EAST AFRICA:
- Kakuma refugee camp in western Kenya. Established in 1991, Kakuma is currently home to over 55,000 refugees, mostly from southern Sudan, many of whom have been in camps for nearly 10 years. Kakuma is also home to refugees from Ethiopia, Somalia, Uganda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Eritrea and Burundi
- Dadaab refugee camp in eastern Kenya is home to approximately 210,000 predominantly Somali refugees. Due to the continuing humanitarian crises in Somalia, many Somali refugees are pouring through the border and into Dadaab camp, making this camp one of the fastest growing camps in East Africa.
In addition, FilmAid has supported partners’ screenings in other communities such as in Patongo, Uganda and in Kibera (Nairobi’s largest slum and home to over 1 million people).
In the camps, living conditions are harsh and the refugee populations are isolated from the surrounding communities.
FilmAid International works in close cooperation with aid agencies in each location. In Kakuma, in addition to the IRC and the UNCHR, FilmAid is working very closely with the educational programs of the Lutheran World Federation. FilmAid is also collaborating with Jesuit Refugee Service and the National Council of Churches of Kenya. UNICEF and the Wildlife Awareness Foundation in East Africa have made important contributions to FilmAid's library of films.
FilmAid includes the local Kenyan rural and poor communities, which have hosted these refugees for years. Overall, FilmAid aims to reach 300,000 needy individuals this year.
"This program is very important to this refugee camp--it is helping to change people's behavior for the good in many ways. First of all, FilmAid brings unity to the camp; second, it provides education in a situation where not enough education is available. It has also been good to see films that promote education as a value. We have learned how to improve our relationships--and been given new ideas on how to resolve problems. People here are also receiving an orientation to the outside--to the rest of the world--and to other African countries. We appreciate that these programs are free and available to our whole families."
(Somali Community Leader, Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya)
Experts from the Center for International Health and Development at Boston University's School of Public Health recently conducted an independent evaluation of FilmAid's programs in Kakuma Refugee Camp, Kenya. Click here to learn more about the impact of FilmAid's work in Kakuma, click here to view the Final Report (pdf)…
