Our Project:
PHASE 1 - INFORMATION GATHERING AND RAISING AWARENESS (completed)
In November 2014 you helped myself, Josh Campbell and photographer Louis Vigneault to get the microphone into the faces of people who really mattered—the Indigenous Saharawi (see https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/growing-deception). Our objective was to use this experience to immediately raise awareness in 2015, but also to narrow our focus and prepare for phase two of the project in 2016 - that is the completion of a documentary film that will contribute to the Saharawi cause. Now we—Josh Campbell, Adam Gamble, Carlos Prieto and Tiffany Strachan—are ready to continue with phase two: a powerful story about two Saharawi women in a desperate fight for their people's independence. We are asking all old and new funders to help us finish the job and tell their story.
Below is a short synopsis of the film we are producing and for which we are raising $10,000 to help complete.
PHASE 2 - DOCUMENTARY (what we need your help to complete)
Sirocco: Winds of Resistance. A documentary film on how two Saharawi women are pushing back against the corporate backed occupation of Western Sahara.
These two brave women share not only a common struggle, but also a common inheritance of nonviolent resistance from each of their grandmothers. Such traits of resistance were forged in the crucible of a distinct nomadic culture and a violent 40-year conflict that is reaching its tipping point.
Born and raised in the Saharawi refugee camps, Aziza Brahim grew up drinking from the inspiration of her war-poet grandmother Al Khadra. Known as the “Poet with a Gun,” Khadra has written poetry that documents three decades of Saharawi resistance to the Moroccan occupation. Many days of Aziza’s youth were spent soaking up her grandmother’s words and helping shape verses in her poems. Today, Aziza Brahim’s poetry, set to music, has topped European World Music charts. Our plan is to interview Aziza and film one of her European music concerts, where her beautiful and politically-charged music will tell the story of her people’s struggle.
Inspired by her grandmother’s story of losing her husband, three sons, and her vision while fleeing the Moroccan invasion, Senia Abderahman has traveled the world to talk about her people. From the United Nations headquarters in New York to the doors of Moroccan State mining lobbyist law firms, Senia continues to ask multinational corporations how purchases of Western Sahara phosphate can, in any way, benefit her people. Her next stop… Canada. Yes, our plan is to bring Senia to Canada to speak about her people's struggles.
What We Need & What You Get
For us, this is a "passion project", meaning the budget isn't too fancy or too large. In other words, we need your help to get there. Plain and simple. We need to raise $10,000 by May 16 in order for this to be possible.
We also want to make your generous contributions worth your while! Our perks include:
A donation of $25 can get you a handwritten postcard and your name written on the credits of our website.
$50 gets you an educational Power Point Presentation including pictures taken during our project along with a postcard and name credit.
$75 gets you a T-shirt with campaign logo and slogan (we are in the process of making this).
$125 gets you a combo pack of a post-card, Power Point Presentation, and T-Shirt
$250 gets you a coffee table book with a host of our best pictures from our project.
We are not trying to make a profit off of this documentary, we are trying to highlight and amplify the Sahawari voices of resistance. Breaking even while doing so is our goal!
Other Ways You Can Help
Help us get the word out about our campaign! Hit share with the Indiegogo tools on all of your social media platforms!
Thank You
Thank you again for your interest and support of this project. I would ask that if you are still interested in helping us complete phase two of the project, then please contribute. Most of the funding is needed for travel; the three of us Canadians to Europe, Africa and back; and a return ticket for Senia to Canada.
