News

Armenia Children's NGO Among 15 Selected Worldwide for Participation in the Adobe Youth Voices

25 Aug 2007

"Beyond Green" Project

Manana Youth Center located in Yerevan was selected recently from a large number of applicant organizations world wide by the Listen Up! organization in New York to participate in the Adobe Youth Voices "Beyond Green" Project.

"It is very exciting for us to have our children and their work recognized for participation in such a prestigious project." Said Ruzanna Baghdasaryan, chairwoman of Manana Youth Center, "Our children are very enthusiastic about getting involved with this project and working in tandem with children around the world, while representing Armenia".

Listen Up! is a youth media network (http://www.listenup.org) that connects young video producers and their allies to resources, support, and projects in order to develop the field and achieve an authentic youth voice in the mass media.

The Listen Up! Youth Media Network, in partnership with Adobe Youth Voices, a global philanthropic youth media initiative, launches Beyond Green (www.listenup.org/projects/beyondgreen), an international documentary film project that asks filmmakers worldwide, ages 13-19, to explore the environment in which they live. In their short films, they'll answer two important questions:

How do you and people in your community interact with the environment?

Is there a better way?

Listen Up! Selected up to 15 production teams worldwide to each make a short documentary film that explores the physical and cultural environments around them. The teams will be given a $10,000 production award, lots of support, and an opportunity to have their work broadcast on TV.

The 13 organizations that were selected from around the world are:

1. Appalshop – Whitesburg, KY, USA
2. Bronx River Art Center, Bronx, NY, USA
3. Fah Diow Foundation – Thailand
4. Light House – Charlottesville, VA, USA
5. Media Education Centre, Belgrade, Serbia
6. Perpich Center for Art Education – Golden Valley, MN, USA
7. Polimorfo, Bogota, Colombia
8. Profile Productions – Israel
9. Say Si – San Antonio, TX, USA
10. Voiceless Children – Nairobi, Kenya
11. Worcester Roots – Worcester, MA, USA
12. Video Volunteers/YUVA – Mumbai, India
13. Manana Youth Center – Yerevan, Armenia

Through a series of teleconferences and video conferences, the youth from the winning organizations will coordinate and discuss their projects worldwide.

"It is a very rewarding experience for me to participate in this project and have our voices heard not only within Armenia, but around the world." Said Gor Baghdasaryan, one of Manana Youth Organization participants. "I am hoping that the end result of this project will impact for the positive attitudes towards the environment in Armenia."