Calls for migration videos

Peter Tanyanyiwa Cool Lifestyle Reporter
The United Nations Alliance of Civilisations and International Organisation for Migration has called on young people to create original videos focusing on migration, diversity and social inclusion by June 27 2014 for consideration in the 2014 Video Festival.
The move is to recognise young people as powerful agents of social change in a world often characterised by intolerance, and cultural and religious divisions.

The initiative is aimed at addressing key challenges and opportunities related to social inclusion and cohesion, migrant integration, respect for identity, diversity, and human rights, both at local and global levels. Young people of up to 19 years are invited to submit short videos of five minutes maximum in length.

The initiative provides young people around the world with the opportunity to submit real stories told by real people, which when widely disseminated would help foster intercultural dialogue and understanding, respect for diversity and tolerance. The videos are expected to touch very sensitive issues in a very real way,” said William Lacy Swing the Director General of the International Organisation for Migration.

“They capture the reality of people’s lives and enable young people to express profound ideas in ways that lead to dialogue.

“The imagination, craftsmanship and care reflected in such a diversity of videos submitted from around the world is an indication that there is an entire generation of people determined to create and shape the world they live in.

“We should all be working towards helping unleash that creativity.” Plural Young People Video Festival supports young people’s expression of their opinions by providing them with a variety of media platforms and distribution networks, including broadcasts, video festivals, conferences and events around the world. A prestigious international jury will select three winners in each age category (9-12, 13-17 and 18-19).

International Jury winners will be invited to New York, with all travel expenses paid, to present their work .