YOUTH LEADERSHIP PLAYLIST
The Youth Leadership Playlist encourages you to be part of the solution by channeling your deep motivation to question and improve the society in which they live. By actively learning about problems in society and working to make a change, you can become an engaged leader strengthening yourself and your community.
SUGGESTED FILMS
A NEW PATH
19-year-old Mukesh Rajak was born into a marginalized community in an impoverished region of rural India. His childhood was marked by discrimination and social exclusion due to his status as a dalit, a member of India’s ‘untouchable’ castes. But a chance opportunity to attend a nonprofit private school would lead Mukesh to find his voice as a community organizer and citizen journalist. Everyday he rides his scooter from village to village documenting negligence and corruption in his region’s school system, convinced that a proper education for every child is the key to transforming his community for the better.
2014 | 27 min
India
Languages: English, Hindi
Subtitles: English
BASEBALL IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA
BASEBALL IN THE TIME OF CHOLERA is a powerful insight into the tragedy and scandal of Haiti’s Cholera epidemic through the eyes of a young baseball player.
2012 | 28 min
Haiti | Canada
Languages: English, French, Spanish
Subtitles: English
CAN’T HIDE ME
Women and girls are often put down, silently, subtly. Bound by invisible chains in their homes, on the streets, in schools and public spaces. Always maintaining a low profile, always crushing their dreams. Is it possible for them to fight back? And what happens when they find the courage to do so? Parvati, Mallika and Heena haven’t met each other but they share more in common than you would think. For they are amongst those women who are taking extraordinary steps to reclaim the spaces that are rightfully theirs, fighting the often invisible barriers that keep women from freedom.
2014 | 26 min
India
Languages: Hindi, Kannada, English
Subtitles: English
FAMILIA AYARA
Don Popo’s life changes when he discovers hip-hop at the age of eleven. From that very moment, hip-hop became the tool that allowed him to dream of a more just and beautiful world: one that is full of wonderful possibilities. Through his Foundation, La Familia Ayara, he tries to revive that same experience in as many kids as possible, always using hip-hop as a tool for positive action.
2013 | 19 min
Spain | Columbia
Language: Spanish
Subtitles: English
NOISE RUNS
In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, failed reconstruction has pushed social unrest to the breaking point. Protests erupt in the streets, and armed UN soldiers stalk the angry crowds. But a group of young Haitians, driven by their passion for a new Haiti, is sparking social change. To democratize information and offer hope to the population, they produce a radical newspaper, Bri Kouri Nouvèl Gaye (Noise Travels, News Spreads).
2014 | 18 min
Haiti
Language: Haitian Kreyol
Subtitles: English
RIO EU AMO EU CUIDO
When the social movement “Rio Eu Amo Eu Cuido” was created it had a single purpose: make Rio de Janeiro a better place to live in. This documentary, shot between October 2014 and March 2015, shows a little of the movement’s universe, projects and actions that took place with the help of volunteers and people passionate about Rio de Janeiro.
2015 | 20 min
Brazil
Language: Portuguese
Subtitles: English
THE BOXING PROJECT
Rashid Aslam’s life suffers a complete transformation after his father’s death. From professional gangster, he turns into a savior of lives. The Boxing Project tells the story of Rashid Aslam and his colleague Yasmin Sheikh, and how they try to have a positive influence on the lives of young kids in difficult situations.
2012 | 9 min
UK | Spain | USA
Language: English
THE MAHOYO PROJECT
The Mahoyo Project is a documentary that follows Mahoyo, a Swedish creative trio as they embark on a cultural exchange – collaborating with local artists in Johannesburg, South Africa. Together they challenge stereotypes and break down normative barriers surrounding race, ethnicity, gender and sexual orientation, through music, fashion and community building.
2014 | 30 min
Sweden & South Africa
Languages: English, Swedish
Subtitles: English
SUGGESTED LESSON PLAN: THE ADVOCATE
The Advocate lesson plan encourages students to be empowered within the classroom and create change in their community. After watching several SIMA films, students will choose a social issue they are most passionate about, conduct thorough research on the topic, and put their impact campaign into action. This project will promote collaborative learning to simulate the challenges of leadership and activism. After the project is completed, students will present and discuss the effectiveness of their campaign with the class, including obstacles they encountered, positive effects they saw in the community, and what they learned from their campaign.
Lesson Plan Add-Ons
Additionally, students can work together to implement their campaign on a larger scale. This can mean permanently implementing the campaign in their school or into other schools in their area. Students are encouraged to take action and contact principals or education administrators in their area to propose a plan for implementation.
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