Into Africa: Embracing Our Ancestors

Capturing the authentic experience of a group of eighth-grade students from Atlanta as they explore their roots in Ghana.

Imagine growing up in an economically challenged neighborhood where illiteracy, teenage pregnancy, drug abuse, incarceration and academic underachievement are the norm. Can you picture this environment where not only are you not expected to dream your dreams but not even encouraged to live up to your full potential. Imagine living in surroundings where your safety is given more thought in the course of the day than your studies. An environment where possible aspiring future lawyers, scientists, doctors and statesmen are discouraged, or lured into a detrimental street life, which wastes precious potential for a solid future. Now, can you visualize a child achieving against these challenges? Consider a young scholar, fully engaged in education, eager to expand their world and excited about exploring new opportunities. KIPP WAYS Academy (www.kipp.org) is an innovative national charter school program, which has been featured on Oprah, allows these youths to tear down the many obstacles before them and encourage them onto a path of success. Traveling abroad is an education unto itself and this excursion will further
enhance their knowledge KIPP is now giving their students the gift of embracing their African roots through a trip to Ghana. You can help capture this excursion on video.
This timeless and captivating documentary will allow you to share in the experience of this amazing journey through the eyes of these young Americans. It will chronicle the odyssey of this group of KIPP Ways Academy scholars on their sojourn to Africa. They have been studying their ancestral histories and this trip is an enriching way to explore their heritage. This experience will be a monumental journey of self-discovery, and serve as a cultural exchange on the commonalities and differences of people in other lands and how it all relates to their world.

The documentary team will follow the group of eighth graders as they prepare to go on the trip. We will capture everything from the students at school, at home and at play. Whether it is getting their shots or doing chores at home, students will lend their commentary on the pending experience. We will also interview members of the community who were an integral part of fundraising for these students and gather their expectations. The documentary team will record the young scholars experiences in Ghana. We will capture their excitement after they arrive as well as document their work on community service projects. The documentary team will also capture the student’s emotions as they leave Ghana. We will document how the students feel after this trip and if this experience changes something in their lives. In addition to the documenting the trip, we will instruct the students on the camera in 3 video workshops prior to leaving Atlanta. The first workshop will show the students basic camera setup and tripod usage. The second session will have students practice shooting from different angles and how to set up for their video diaries. The third workshop will have students practice shooting while moving with the camera.