DRC film-making course helps Jordanian, refugee youths turn talent into profession

AMMAN — The Danish Refugee Council (DRC) recently concluded a five-day filmmaking training course within the “Youth Oscars” programme, funded by the Bureau of Population, Refugees and Migration, a statement sent to The Jordan Times said on Wednesday.

The programme concluded the second round of the course, attended by 240 young Jordanians and Syrian refugees, according to the statement.

As part of the protection programme targeting youths in east Amman, the DRC developed a film-making manual, aside from the training. The programme includes clear psychosocial support objectives such as improving self-esteem, self-expression and team building, the statement underlined.

At the conclusion of the course, the DRC held the “Oscars for Youth” graduation ceremony for the participants and their parents, giving them a chance to screen their short films to an audience and win various prizes.

The DRC’s Youth Oscars gives young refugees and vulnerable Jordanians a chance to showcase their films and celebrate their work with family and loved ones, the agency said in the press release.

The DRC says that its programmes, including the film-making training and manual, helps Jordanian and Syrian youth engage in society more productively and positively.

“Syrian children and youth have often been centre stage in unsettling images capturing the tragedy of war and displacement” said a DRC representative.

“But this is different; we are turning the camera around, giving young refugees the opportunity to tell their stories and express their own views on life,” the representative added, as quoted in the statement.

Ali, a Syrian refugee from Daraa, is a frequent visitor of the DRC’s SANAD community centre in east Amman and one of the participants in the programme.

“Whenever I can, I rent a camera for a few hours just so I can take photographs,” he said.

His passion quickly transformed into a talent, and people started paying him money for portraits, the statement highlighted.

“I don’t charge much,” he said with a smile; four photos for one dinar.

The films, which tackled topics such as child marriage, losing loved ones, social taboos and many other widespread cultural issues, were all written, directed and filmed by the participants, who also starred in their own films, the DRC’s statement noted.

“I wish there were more courses about film-making and photography available to us,” Ali said.

He was 12 years old when he left Daraa, and his father told him it would only be for a few weeks, he exclaimed.

Seven years later, Ali found himself out of school and working in a barbershop in east Amman to financially support his family, according to the DRC.

The programme allows youth who are passionate about film-making and photography to develop and grow their talents, the statement added.

Hundreds of thousands of refugees have crossed the border into Jordan from Syria since the Syrian crisis began, mostly residing outside refugee camps.

Programmes like these help integrate refugee youths into society and develop their skills, the statement concluded.