St. Maarten’s UNICEF Children’s Rights Film Festival (see related story) was a worthwhile endeavour, involving about 100 pupils ages 9-13 representing three schools, an afterschool programme and the Youth Council. With the necessary guidance, they worked some two months on films depicting child rights to enter the competition.
Ultimately only one group could win and earn a trip to Curaçao for the regional contest. However, all these children had the chance to delve into an exciting artform they might not usually be able to experience first-hand very often.
Especially in this digital, ICT-oriented age of social media and YouTube, that choice certainly seems fitting. In addition, the topic should help promote awareness among students about their own position and role in society.
The project was made possible by the Netherlands St. Maarten Recovery Fund, which goes to show that social assistance does not always have to be strictly material in nature, as also support in mental aspects can be quite useful. Don’t underestimate how important it is for youngsters to feel comfortable and confident in expressing themselves freely.
In fact, many smart and successful people will tell you that – for example – their creativity and ability to adjust served them equally as well as what they learned from textbooks in the classroom. Keep in mind that it was Albert Einstein who said: “Imagination is more powerful than knowledge.”
