CAID: Commemoration of Day of the African Child Film Screening

Ibrahim Ceesay
Social Justice Activist & Film-Maker
Executive Director, CAID

In commemoration of the African Child Day, Children and Community Initiative for Development (CAID), on 16th June, 2014 to gather government officials, youth groups, UN Agencies, Students, CSOs amongst others personalities to a screening of the award winning film ‘’The Hand of Fate’’ on the 16^th of June 2014 by 6:00p.m at the Ebunjan Theatre, opposite Gambia Football Association House Kanifing Institutional Area, as part of commemoration of Day of the African Child (DAC) 2014. 

The screening will be followed by discussions, questions and answers with cast and crew of the film, Government officials, UN Agencies, Students, Youth Groups and Civil Society Organizations on the theme of DAC 2014.  

The Children and Community Initiative for Development CAID, is a public interest based organization striving towards children and community development in the Gambia. Disadvantaged communities and children that vulnerable to poverty and human rights violations are powerful agents of change and development when mobilized from within. CAID believes that children are the leaders in future making therefore, they should be educated, empowered and equipped with the necessary skills in circumventing challenges affecting them at all levels.

On 16 June every year, the African Union and its Partners celebrate the Day of the African Child (DAC), in commemoration of the 1976 protests by school children in Soweto, South Africa. The students protested against an education designed to further the purposes of the apartheid regime. The brutal response of the apartheid security agencies to the unarmed students’ protests resulted in the death of a number of them. The 1976 protests contributed greatly to the eventual collapse of the apartheid regime. In 1991, the African Union Assembly passed a resolution designating 16 June as a Day for the celebration of the African child.

The DAC presents an opportunity for all Stake-holders on children’s rights, including government, non-governmental and international entities, to reflect on issues affecting children in Africa. The DAC is an opportune moment to take stock of the progress made and the outstanding challenges towards the full realization of the rights of children at the national and regional level.  The theme for this year’s commemoration is a “A child friendly, quality, free and compulsory education for all children in Africa"

CAID as part of its campaign against ‘’child marriage’’ and promotion of ‘’girls education’’ has co-produced a film called “The Hand of Fate’’. The film explores the theme of early marriage and its negative effects on the development of young girls. It poses questions in an attempt to find some answers to this cultural phenomenon. CAID intends to use film as a tool for change and social transformation in form of edutainment (education through entertainment) and infotainment (information through entertainment). Film has always been a bridge between education and entertainment. From the earliest time, theatre and film has been used to spread news, share history, or educate people about events outside of their communities. Audience members often relate to characters on television drama and are motivated to participate in interactive opportunities for discussing the controversial and sensitive issues of sexuality, intravenous drug use, violence against girls and women, child abuse, environmental hazards, and other social issues affecting young people and communities.  

This enriching, highly educative and quality film “The Hand of Fate’’ based on the book written by renowned Gambian Playwright and Threatre Director Mrs. Janet Badjan Young and Produced & Directed by Ibrahim Ceesay.  The Hand of Fate has been premiered and screened in The Gambia on the 1^st February 2013 and was reckoned by many as the biggest movie event in The Gambia.

The film was also screened in Ethiopia as part of the African Union 50^th Anniversary Celebrations, screened in Paris-France as part of the UNESCO Africa Week and subsequent screenings also took place in Sweden, Denmark and Norway. It is the 1^st Gambian film to make it for international screening. The film won ‘’Best Indigenous Film’’ at the Nollywood and African Film Critics’ Awards (African Oscars) held in Washington D.C. on the 14^th of September 2013. 

The UN designated “Innovating for Girls’ Education” as the official theme for the International Girls  Day in 2013, it is important to reflect on the barriers to girls’ education and innovative solutions to addressing them. Given the strong correlations between rates of child marriage and progress on education for girls.

Sequel to the above, we write to kindly invite you as Special Guest to the screening of the award winning film ‘’The Hand of Fate’’ on the 16^th of June 2014 by 6:00p.m at the Ebunjan Theatre, opposite Gambia Football Association House Kanifing Institutional Area, as part of commemoration of Day of the African Child (DAC) 2014. The screening will be followed by discussions, questions and answers with cast and crew of the film, Government officials, UN Agencies, Students, Youth Groups and Civil Society Organizations on the theme of DAC 2014.

Link to film trailer http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bFfhSPp6_w

Link to making of the film http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mb3GPac-Tc