Dates: November 21 – December 5, 2011
Camps: Djabal, Goz Amer & Kounoungo
Mission:
i-ACT 11 will be partnering with Washington D.C.-based Darfur Dream Team to further school improvements and follow up with students in the Sister Schools program. i-ACT will also be delivering a mobile library in partnership with the Human Rights Watch Student Task Force. The library consists of a donkey saddled with learning materials focused on human rights and the English language, and will travel from school to school within camp Djabal.
In addition to the education-based projects, i-ACT will begin forming Darfur United – an all-refugee soccer team set to attempt to compete in the 2012 Viva World Cup in Iraqi Kurdistan. The story of Darfur United is a living documentary being told via social media.
Updates:
It Takes a Team
On i-ACT 11 this past fall, I quickly learned that shooting video in a
refugee camp is a whole new ballgame when it comes to being behind a
camera. The most difficult aspect is that the kids are all so excited
about what we’re doing and all want a chance to smile and wave at the
camera. This makes capturing anyone speaking a very difficult task!
While I was shooting interviews with students one morning in Djabal,
there was a distinct lack of kids around. After awhile, I heard a
commotion behind me and turned to investigate. Miah was distracting
the kids so we could get our work done! This ended up being one of my
favorite moments from the trip.
Now that’s teamwork!
Hand-to-Handstand
It’s hard to believe it’s already been two months since we departed from the camps. Although we’re already working on getting the next trip put together, there is still so much to share from i-ACT11!
One of the things that surprised me in the camps was how adept all the kids are at handstands! They all wanted to show off for the camera. Gabriel told me this is a Darfuri tradition to do these sorts of gymnastics.
The whole team got laughing in Camp Kounoungo, as Gabriel took on the challenge of trying to out-handstand this particularly talented kid. Watch the video and see who won!
Camp Kounoungo Football
Check out this little video recorded on a GoPro camera, showing Camp Kounoungo refugee soccer players, showing their moves. They all want to be a part of Darfur United and will be preparing during the following months to make the team.
iOnGround: Hafsa’s Family
A young Darfuri refugee in eastern Chad named Hafsa was given a camera to document any part of her life. She chose to be interviewed with her family.
Darfur United Colors
Gabriel asks some aspiring Darfur United players what uniform colors they’d like for the team. Rahma and Murtada reveal their bias towards some famous team colors. Watch to see further proof that football really is the world’s sport and you can find fans everywhere.
Refugee Mud Hut Building
Darfuri refugees in eastern Chad make mud bricks to build their homes. Their UN issued tents have long ago been damaged by time and weather. Since there is little vegetation in the area, they build shelter from the ground they live on.
