Kids with Cameras

Has anyone seen the movie Born into Brothels? It is hands down one of the best movies/documentaries that I have ever seen. In fact, it even won an Oscar for Best Documentary. It is THAT good.

I watched it in last January when I was laid up in bed with the most awful cold of my life. It probably didn't help that I was an utter mess to begin with, but then I watched this movie and, I mean, the floodgates opened and I'm surprised that it didn't cause a natural disaster. In fact, I really do think that the water level at Cedar Creek Lake rose solely based on all those tears I shed.

Wow. I guess my description isn't going to make any of you run out and get the movie, is it? I mean, who wants a movie that's going to be a tearjerker, right?

But do it. Get the movie. It will change your life. It's inspiring and uplifting and heartbreaking all at the same time. It's the movie that made us go ahead and take the mad leap of faith to adopt Nandini. Sounds strange, but it is. We had just gotten back Nandi's report from an International Adoption Specialist... and she basically had Nandini pegged as an invalid. But for some reason, watching this movie (and with lots of prayer), we decided to go for it - and we've never looked back. And we've never regretted the decision.

So, yeah, I can honestly say that this movie changed our lives.

Basically, it's about this photographer who goes to Calcutta, India (or Kolkata, if you prefer) and actually lives in the Red Light District while she's making a documentary on what it's like to work and live in a brothel. While there, she befriends the children who live there - whose moms work as prostitutes - and they are fascinated with her camera. So she decides to give the kids their own camera and lets them take pictures of their everyday life. And it transforms them. It is amazing to see how art can make such a difference in a child's life.

She then goes on to help some of them get out of the brothels - because most of the girls who grow up in a brothel never leave.. they end up becoming prostitutes themselves. So, the movie shows how she tries to get them into schools and how the local schools are resistant. It's just amazing. And you can go on the Kids with Cameras site and get updates on how the kids are doing. One now lives in the U.S. Another is starting college in India. And one, who was my favorite, decided to stay in the brothel. That broke my heart.

But really, do yourself a favor and get this movie. It may break your heart.. but, honestly, don't we all need to be a bit broken? How can we change and better ourselves and better the world if we don't allow anything to penetrate our hearts?

Anyway, the main reason I decided to post this is because I got an email saying that there's now an educational curriculum guide aimed at highschoolers and it's available for free online. You can access it here. I think this would be great not only for public highschoolers, but for homeschoolers, as well. Kids with Cameras partnered with Amnesty International to do the guide and it covers some really important topics. Like racism and discrimination. The right to an education. The transformative power of art. It's just really, really amazing.

And don't be turned off just because it's aimed at highschoolers. I'm going to do it, too. I think we can so easily get wrapped up in our own lives and our own problems - at least I know I can - so it's really important to see what goes on in the rest of the world - especially with kids. Because, as cliche as it sounds, kids are our future. The kids today are going to grow up and be the rulers of the world one day. And, honestly, that's really scary.

But don't despair. There are some awesome movers and shakers out there - awesome students who are making a difference, and I'm going to talk about one of them tomorrow.

For now, though, I've got to go. I've got three future leaders I need to tend to.

P.S. I have the movie if anyone wants to borrow it.

Leslie