special projects

Lights! Camera! Action!

In 2009, S.I.S.T.E.R. participants engaged in a second year of documentary filmmaking! Connecticut College Film Studies Major Sarah Tabet ‘10 joined the OVCS team to implement the S.I.S.T.E.R.'s Filmmakers Project. The Project engaged middle-school girls (mentees) and female Connecticut College students (mentors) in an exciting and dynamic educational experience.

The mentees met with their mentors each week on campus and learned how to carry out research, build a storyboard, conduct interviews, shoot video, and edit, as they explored current political and social issues. In addition, the group met with women of the New London community and Connecticut College, in order to increase their knowledge of community resources and to film them for inclusion in the documentary.

As part of this “Women & Girls Who Inspire” project, the SISTER mentees used their research of role models to create quilt pieces to represent women in history and present day who encourage, motivate, and inspire. The quilt is currently on display in New London at the Bennie Dover Jackson Middle School library.

Participants of the film and quilt project increased their self-esteem and gained greater knowledge of themselves as capable participatory citizens. These positive effects are important, as research indicates that girls and women with these strengths are less likely to become victims of abuse and violence and less likely to face teenage pregnancy.

The film they created demonstrates how women are change agents, highlights the importance of making healthy choices for a positive and healthy future, emphasizes how important it is to have women role models and provides information about community resources and support for addressing challenges.

Both the mentors and the mentees were highly engaged in the Project and rated the program as very good. One mentor reflected "I do feel like I made an impact in the girls' life!" while a mentee asserted "Women are able to achieve more goals in life."

The Frank Loomis Palmer Fund provides support for the program and the S.I.S.T.E.R.'s Filmmakers Project was supported by a grant from the Community Foundation of Southeastern Connecticut Women & Girls Fund.

Last Modified: Wednesday, July 22, 2009 14:34