A COMMUNITY project examining the real lives of Black
young men in Northamptonshire will be wrapped up this week
with a special screening of a documentary film.
Money, Power and Respect, is the result of a five-month project
aimed at exploring the reality of being a Black/Mixed race
man in England and how young people might overcome barriers.
The DVD, which looks at issues relating to young Black, Minority,
Ethnic (BME) groups and was made entirely by six young men
involved in the project, will be shown to audiences at The
Picturedrome, Northampton, on June 29th.
Damion Whall, BME Voluntary Sector Personal Adviser for Connexions
Northamptonshire, who helped organise the project said it
had changed the lives of some of the young men involved.
He said: “It was amazing how the young people were able
to explain some of the difficulties that they had faced including
street life, fatherless homes, drug misuse, crime and racism.
“Several of the young people have said the project has
changed their perspective of life. One young person has moved
away from crime and drug misuse while another felt that his
life experiences were truly understood for the time.”
The film focuses on 18-year-old Steven Amoah, from Kingsthorpe,
Northampton, who said the project had inspired him to consider
a career with the army.
He said: “We learned interview skills and how to operate
a camera and it has really improved my confidence. Now I want
to make a difference with my life and I am hoping to sign
up with the army. That is something I wouldn’t have
considered before.”
As part of the project, which was organised by Connexions
Northamptonshire in partnership with the Learning Skills Council,
Education and Youth Services, Converge Learning Consortium
and the Council for Ethnic Minorities Communities, the men
also composed a sound track and radio documentary which is
due to be aired on Inspiration FM.
Money, Power and Respect will be shown at The Picturedrome
on June 29th at 8pm.
For more information contact: Damion Whall 07793 307 241.
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