WHO WE ARE

We are a dedicated group of adults and youth working to create a template for changing cultures of violence against women and children.

WITNESS Project International is an arts-based initiative of The Margaret Clemons Foundation (MCF), a New York City based nonprofit organization with a mission to stop the cycle of violence against women and children using counselor and teacher training, education, therapy, and community and youth outreach. MCF is partnered with Lesley University in Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, and the Government of Guyana, South America, to create a template for change to be used throughout the Caribbean, Latin America, and the world.

The pilot program for building this template is in Guyana, SA, because it is a country mired in gender violence with a government motivated to partner with organizations to address this humanitarian problem with social, cultural, educational, health, and economic consequences for families and society. Guyana is small enough for real change to be tracked over time, it is English speaking, and MCF has partnerships with the Government of Guyana, Ministry of Education, Child Protective Services, and others, along with organizations like Help & Shelter working to address gender violence, and children/families in crisis.

As part of this template for change Lesley University, in conjunction with MCF and the Guyana Ministry of Education, has launched a unique Master’s Degree Program specifically tailored for individuals working in social services and schools. The Master’s Degree Program in Trauma Sensitive Assessment, Intervention, and Consultation equips graduates to bring improved counseling and support services to children and families. http://www.lesley.edu/PageTemplate.aspx?id=8892

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WHAT WE'VE DONE

WITNESS Project International started working with youth and communities through arts based programming with our very successful photography portrait project, as part of the 2011 TED Prize winner JR’s global Inside Out Project. We outfitted Guyanese youth ages 11 – 17 with cameras; they then photographed over 600 children and adults who supported their project. Their photographs sent this message to adults: “Stop your violence against our mothers, sisters, aunts, and neighbors. We see you and you must do better.” Children are the most vulnerable witnesses to violence and they learn from what they see. In the words of JR himself, “What we see changes who we are.”

The children's photographs were printed as huge face and eye posters and pasted up, all over the capital of Georgetown, generating a lot of press, interest, and dialogue throughout Guyana.

As a result of the success of that arts project we were given a full page each week in the leading national newspaper, The Stabroek News, for a youth page called WE SEE - written by the WITNESS Project youth based on their own experiences of how the violence they see affects them. The kids also created their own newspaper page marketing campaign that they take directly to the public in shopping and business areas, and in schools, to get the word out.

Using the art form of writing to tell their stories gives the youth another medium to get their message out while gaining a growing sense of self-worth. The project has developed into an after school literacy/journalism program in various regions.

People are beginning to hear the message and see how their behavior impacts children and the future of the community. The youth's involvement has also changed their own thinking and actions. The WITNESS Project youth are now frequently asked to speak and attend conferences in diverse communities.

Below: WITNESS Project youth were invited to participate in the Women's Enterprise Exposition WEnEX 2012 by having their own booth.

Below: WITNESS Project invited to visit with Prime Minister Samuel Hinds.

Below: WITNESS Project youth interviewed by the press about their unique youth newspaper page WE SEE.

WITNESS Project youth from Georgetown have created cultural exchanges with Amerindian youth from the remote Village of Capoey. The Georgetown kids are teaching the Capoey kids how to write for the youth newspaper page WE SEE. Our arts-based outreaches are growing and including more and more kids!

Below: WITNESS Project kids on one of their many cultural exchange trips.

These investments in the arts are proving to be a powerful way to influence individuals and communities with positive incremental changes in cultural norms._______________________________________

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW

Now we are moving to film! The children’s deeply moving stories have inspired us to bring their powerful messages to an even wider audience through film. Under the direction of filmmakers Morgan Riles and Ginger Theisen our intensive summer film workshops will involve over 20 youth in developing their stories for film. They will learn how to write and edit scripts, produce, handle a camera, prepare sets, direct, learn about lighting, sound, and act in 3 short films which will be distributed to a wide audience throughout Guyana and the Caribbean on TV, including the 24 hour Education Channel in Guyana, as well as on YouTube, Vimeo, Facebook, and other media. We will also take the films into neighborhoods to show them in public spaces, on sidewalks, and other venues, (many in Guyana do not have TV/Internet.) These film screenings will provide information about how and where to get support and help. 

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WHY WE NEED YOUR HELP

We need your help to raise 35K (US) to deliver, in August 2013, two weeks of intensive film workshops in Guyana with the WITNESS Project youth, then film, edit, and distribute 3 short films based on the youth's stories. We have earned a reputation of a no-nonsense program that delivers opportunity and growth to the youth of Guyana, creating leaders out of our members and a new mindset where conflict is resolved without violence. To keep the momentum going and to grow we cannot go it alone. We need your help and support. We need you to believe, as we do and have seen, that change is possible.

HOW YOUR DONATION WILL BE USED 

We already have firm commitments from the Guyanese Ministry of Education and local supporters for in-country transportation of the crew and children, workshop meals for the youth, and rehearsal space — saving us thousands of dollars. 

All of the 35K (minus minimal Indiegogo fees for nonprofits) will go directly to supporting this initiative. Any funds raised over and above that amount will be directed to the ongoing WITNESS Project programming to stop the cycle of gender-based and child-directed violence.

You will receive by email a receipt certifying you have made this donation as a charitable contribution. We are a 501c3 public charity and your contribution is tax-deductible.

After our Indiegogo Campaign is over you can still donate directly to the Margaret Clemons Foundation by PayPal, check, or credit card at this link/address: http://themargaretclemonsfoundation.org/contact.html

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OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP