Two groups of people on opposite sides of the world, both considered the lowest of the low, find each other... and together, find hope.
Funds are being sought to complete this inspiring documentary, which is shot, written and rough cut. Your contributions will help us to complete: fine editing, music, graphics and audio sweetening. We are thisclose to finishing this important film! Here's what it's about:
Patricia Anyango was just nine years old the first time she was abducted by the Lord's Resistance Army. Life with the rebels was so horrific that Patricia prayed she would die. She escaped after about six months, only to be abducted again. By the time she was rescued at the age of 10, both of her parents were dead. Patricia was free but had joined the ranks of Uganda's 2.5 million orphans.
Stories like Patricia's were heard 9,000 miles away at Snake River Correctional Institution on the Oregon/Idaho border, where an inmate like Pete Sostilio counts the days until he is released from prison. He has served 16 years of an 18 year sentence for kidnapping. Patricia and Pete, on opposite sides of the world, partners. Theirs is a story of hope lost... and found.
Here's how it happened: Patricia's and Pete's paths merged thanks to Bob and Carol Higgins, retired school teachers from Bend, Oregon. They had absolutely no interest in visiting a prison and even less in visiting Africa. Then in 1999, they were invited by friends to attend a conference in Uganda. They less-than-enthusiastically said "yes", not realizing this trip would turn their world upside-down and enrich their lives in ways they never anticipated. Fast forward to 2011. Bob and Carol have lived in Uganda for more than a decade and if you ask them how many children they have, they will say 260. They have built Otino Waa Children's Village, a place that is truly more like a village than an orphanage. For the Higginses, it has come at great sacrifice: being half a world away from their own children and nine grandchildren.
Some of the Otino Waa children are former child soldiers. Some lost their parents to rebels, others to AIDS. One young boy was found living in a ditch. All had lost hope. The funding for Otino Waa comes solely from private donations by generous Americans. But Bob and Carol never expected one unusual group of donors: those artist-inmates serving hard time at Snake River Correctional Institution on the Oregon/Idaho border. The men heard about the Otino Waa orphans during a prison chapel service and were moved by the children's stories, wanted to help. But how could they? Turns out some of them were quite accomplished self-taught artists. They wrote a proposal to prison officials: Could they create works of art to be sold with all proceeds going to the orphans? The officials said "yes". Their payback, say the inmates, is a sense of purpose they have not felt in years.
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65
Backers
$18,007
pledged of $18,000 goal
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Funding period
Mar 28, 2011 -
Apr 28, 2011
(30 days)
- First created · 1 backed
- Has not connected Facebook
- Website: tvstoryteller.com
Pledge $1 or more
1 backer
Electronic updates on the status of the film.
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1 backer
A postcard with an image created by an inmate-artist at Snake River Correctional Institution and electronic updates on the status of the film.
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5 backers
A postcard wtih a portrait of one of the orphans created by Ugandan artist Isaac Okwir and electronic updates on the status of the film.
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10 backers All gone!
A hand-crafted item made by one of the house moms at the orphanage, electronic updates on the status of the film.
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10 backers All gone!
DVD of the completed film, a hand-crafted item made by one of the house moms at the orphanage, a postcard of a watercolor portrait of one of the orphans created by Ugandan artist Isaac Okwir, electronic updates on the status of the film.
Pledge $100 or more
20 backers
An unframed print of a piece of artwork created by an inmate at Snake River Correctional Institution, your name listed on the film's website, electronic updates on the status of the film, a DVD of the completed film.
Pledge $500 or more
2 backers
A framed print of a piece of artwork created by an inmate at Snake River Correctional Institution, your name listed on the film's website, electronic updates on the status of the film, a DVD of the completed film.
Pledge $1,000 or more
2 backers Limited (3 of 5 left)
Framed original piece of artwork created by an inmate at Snake River Correctional Institution, invitation to a VIP screening in Bend, OR, your name on the film's website, electronic updates on the status of the film, a DVD of the completed film.
Pledge $2,000 or more
0 backers Limited (5 of 5 left)
Your name in the credits under "special thanks", framed original piece of artwork created by an inmate at Snake River Correctional Institution, invitation to a VIP screening in Bend, OR, your name on the film's website, electronic updates on the status of the film, a DVD of the completed film.
Pledge $5,000 or more
0 backers Limited (4 of 4 left)
The producers of the film will cook dinner for you in their home (whether the oven is fixed or not), your name in the credits, framed original piece of artwork created either by an inmate-artist or Isaac Okwir, invitation to a VIP screening in Bend, OR, your name on the film's website, electronic updates on the status of the film, a DVD of the completed film.
