Film Library: Human Services

SNEAK PEEK: LIFE AFTER WARTIME

JULY 2010

explore went on a philanthropic fact-finding mission to Idaho to learn about soldiers dealing with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. Over a year later, Charlie met with Christian and Joe to talk about the challenges of life after wartime. In this excerpt from the full interview, Joe Gracia describes living with "survivor guilt."

WORLD FOOD PROGRAMME

MARCH 2008

Darfur is in need of 30-40 thousand metric tons of food a month to combat starvation and malnutrition. The World Food Programme strives to meet those needs and provide much needed food aid to the conflict-torn region. Watch as Emilia Casella explains the challenges faced by the WFP to deliver the much-needed aid.

CHRISTIAN ELLIS

JUNE 2010

explore met Christian while filming FISH OUT OF WATER. Christian told explore that his parents were music teachers and he studied Opera in his early teens. It was a dream long now dormant, buried under the scars of new realities. While filming, explore founder Charles Annenberg, suggested that Christian write an OPERA on his experiences in Iraq. That was almost two years ago. For the last two years, Christian has been taking voice lessons once a week. This short clip shows the first time Christian Ellis has sung in public since he was fifteen. He never thought his voice would re-emerge. It did on Memorial Day. Video courtesy of mountainfilm.org.

FISH OUT OF WATER

SEPTEMBER 2008

Combat Vets suffering from PTSD participate in a fly fishing workshop hosted by non-profit Sun Valley Adaptive Sports. Explore the connection between nature and healing.

STREET POETS

AUGUST 2009

With the motto of "One Street, One Heartbeat, One Love," LA-based Street Poets teaches young people how to develop their poetic voice and share their feelings about life on the street, in schools, and in juvenile detention facilities. By giving them an artistic outlet for expression, Street Poets empowers Los Angeles County youth to transcend self-destructive lifestyles and creatively transform both lives and communities.

DR. DOG

NOVEMBER 2006

Education and personal growth can come in many forms. The Ramaswami Aiyar Foundation brings dogs into schools to help children break through their shyness, especially the developmentally challenged. Children with ADD, autism, and other developmental disabilities improve their speaking and social skills with the help of the program.

A PLACE TO RUN TO

SEPTEMBER 2007

When we think of the Arctic, we often think of global warming. But a deeper, darker issue plagues the region. In the northern Canadian town of Iqaluit, women are eight times more likely to be victims of domestic violence. See how brave Arctic women are supporting each other at Qimaavaik (Inuktitut for "A Place to Run To") — a safe haven for abused women and children. Through peer support and counseling, they are building self-esteem and healing wounded spirits.

BLVD OF BROKEN DREAMS

AUGUST 2006

When Hurricane Katrina hit New Orleans, entire neighborhoods were destroyed, and people left the city in droves. Those that remained were faced with the incredible challenge of gutting their homes and building safe, sustainable communities from the ground up. Witness their fierce determination as they work with Habitat for Humanity and the Baptist Crossroads Project to put the pieces back together.

17TH STREET CANAL

AUGUST 2006

Explore visits the Ninth Ward district of New Orleans, where in August 2005 rising waters blasted through a levee in the 17th Street canal. During the chaos that followed, some 2,000 people were killed and $84 billion of damages were incurred. Kay Wilkins of the American Red Cross explains what happened, and shows how people — with help from charities — are working to slowly rebuild.

RED CROSS

AUGUST 2006

The American Red Cross played an essential role both during and after Hurricane Katrina struck New Orleans and other parts of the Gulf Coast. Thanks to an outpouring of national support, it was able to raise more than $2 billion and coordinated the efforts of 230,000 volunteers. Still, recovery has been painfully slow for the most affected parts of the city.

FIGHTING HIV

NOVEMBER 2006

Although India's HIV rate is much lower than other developing nations, some 5.7 million people still reportedly carry the virus. The efforts of Dr. Suniti Solomon and her team at the Y.R.G. Centre for AIDS Research and Education have taken care of 11,000 patients and are helping to slow the spread of the epidemic.

RURAL WOMEN

APRIL 2006

Women in rural China have one of the highest suicide rates in the world. Wu Qing at the Development Center for Rural Women believes that empowering women with the idea of equality, giving them out-of-home work skills, and instilling a sense of social responsibility will increase their feeling of self-worth and improve quality of life. To plant the desire for knowledge, the center also started a grassroots literacy program.

HOMEBOY

AUGUST 2005

Homeboy Industries is bringing hope to some of L.A.'s toughest neighborhoods by providing ways for at-risk youth and former gang members to meaningfully contribute to their communities. Under the leadership of the inspiring Father Greg Boyle, and with the motto Nothing Stops a Bullet like a Job, they guide more than 1,000 young people a month away from gang life.