NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES IN INDIA-
COMMISSION ON YOUTH
Short Film Contest
August 12 is observed as International Youth day all over
the world every year. Commission on Youth also has been observing International
Youth Day through organizing various programmes through its constituent members
who are around 14 million people. Among the 14 million, approximately 4 million
are young people. Commission on Youth has been catering to these young people
on International Youth day by enabling them to realize their skills and by
acknowledging the contributions youth make to the Church and society.
In 2012, Commission on youth organized Bible quiz, Elocution
and painting competitions for young people on the theme “Arise and shine lets
build the earth”. In 2013, a musical concert with young musicians was organized
and also a seminar on “Youth and Migration” was conducted. In 2014, we
organized an essay writing competition on our modified centenary theme “youth
towards integral mission and grassroots ecumenism”. This year the UN theme is “Youth
Civic Engagement”.
Young people constitute approximately 66% of the entire
population. And India is heading to be the world’s largest youth population. But
in spite India being the youngest nation, we hardly see young people in the
leadership roles, as decision makers, as CEOs of the organizations, heads of
the Churches etc. What is the reason behind this lack of space for young
people. Young people lack the space they deserve because their space is being
occupied by others. Young people are pushed to the margins denied space and
opportunity. How we claim our space is the question before us, Commission on
Youth has been organizing several leadership training programmes since its
inception and has trained young people into leadership roles and encouraging
them to join the ecumenical movement. We have started reaping the fruit of the
toil and have seen few young people joining the Ecumenical Movement and giving
leadership to few organizations, though this is an achievement in itself. This
is not sufficient; there is need for claiming more space.
It is in context, the
UN theme for International Youth Day theme “Youth Civic Engagement” becomes
relevant and contextual. The engagement and participation of youth is essential
to achieve sustainable human development. The engagement of Youth is necessary
to offer innovative ways of solving the crisis at various levels, youth
leadership is important to ensure we give space for second line leadership. Young
people are less represented, be it in the church committees, be it in the
leadership roles of the church and society. But when it comes to Dalit youth,
the space is further shrunk and further more worse for dalit women. Though
there are dalits who have contributed to the church and society, their caste
identity doesn’t allow their contributions to see the day, they remain in the
dark.
Therefore, this year, the Commission on Youth has decided to conduct a
Short Film contest for its constituent members. The aim of this contest is to
encourage young people to shoot short films on the contributions of dalit young
women who have contributed to the church and society through civic engagement.
Objectives:
· To be exposed to, and to appreciate
and acknowledge the contributions of the Dalit young women to the Church and
society.
· To encourage young
people to know the stories of young dalit women and to make their short
inspiring films based on their contributions
Invitation to partner!
The Commission on Youth invites individuals and churches to institute prizes in their respective name. The prize money will be given by the NCCI Commission on Youth on every International Youth Day to the best entry/participation in the programme/competition organized for the year.
