ChildFund Australia launches children's film series in celebration of World Water Day

ChildFund Australia today launched an international series of children's short films in celebration of World Water Day, where over 700 children from Australia, Laos, Timor-Leste, Sri Lanka and Vietnam creatively shared their views about the diverse role of water in their lives. Each of the 19 films was scripted, filmed and edited by primary and secondary school children from the schools and communities who participated in the ChildFund Connect Water World International Children's Film Festival . The result? A series of short films, made by and for children, which capture what water means to children in different parts of the world - from the silly to the surprising to the serious. The films will also become a DVD resource for children in Australia and in the participant countries to learn about the importance of water in different communities. Nigel Spence, CEO of ChildFund Australia, said these videos provide an important avenue for children to voice their concerns and insights during the United Nations International Year of Water Cooperation. "At ChildFund, we believe all children have a right to express their view on issues that affect them, particularly those that impact their world environment," said Mr Spence. "With awareness-raising events taking place globally about water sustainability and strategies to manage natural disasters, children should have just as much opportunity to share their experiences and add their voice to the conversation. These videos provide viewers with valuable insights into how water issues affect children as well as the wider community." Spanning across the Asia Pacific, the film series is part of the ChildFund Connect program, a global education initiative that uses multimedia technology to connect children in Australia, Laos, Sri Lanka, Timor-Leste and Vietnam, with the aim of exchanging cultures and learning about each other's lives. This program is the first of its kind to be developed by an Australian non-government organisation, tapping into a growing trend of cross-country education through digital technology. Managed by ChildFund Australia and supported by AusAID, ChildFund Connect is a child-led program that allows children to both teach and learn, leveraging technology to communicate and explore issues relevant to their environments. "Water connects all of us, wherever we live in the world," Mr Spence added. "It's a part of our everyday lives in so many different ways - but the common thread is that we all need water to survive and having access to safe drinking water is a universal human right. "Through this film series, we wanted to highlight how children - our future leaders - have a unique perspective on global issues that affect them, including water." The 19 films were chosen by each of the schools and communities who participate in ChildFund Connect to represent them in the festival. The films can be viewed on the ChildFund Australia YouTube channel . For more information on ChildFund Connect, visit www.childfundconnect.org