FURD
KNIFE crime, gang violence and bullying are being put under the spotlight by a group of young film-makers at FURD.
The young people are all volunteers with the Youth Against Conflict group based at FURD, who made the thought-provoking film with Maddy Pike of InterAct Theatre.
It will be shown in schools and at youth centres across the region and aims to get young people thinking about the consequences of carrying knives.
“It’s Your Call” looks at how to deal with conflict and challenges youngsters to take responsibility for their actions.
The DVD, which is aimed at secondary school students, includes two stories – one based around a fatal gang stabbing, and the other about a 15-year-old Muslim girl who is being bullied at school for wearing the Hijaab.
Amjid Hafiz, education worker at the Sharrow-based anti-racism organisation, helped oversee the exciting project which was managed by FURD, with funding from Sheffield City Council and South Yorkshire Police. He plays an angry young man who carries a blade and kills a rival gang member in a fight.
“Playing a murderer in the film was a very sobering experience”, said Amjid. “It brought home to me how your whole life could be ruined through carrying a knife”
The DVD comes with a supporting booklet containing suggested discussion points, drama activities and background information. It is designed for youth workers, teachers and facilitators to use with young people.
The “It’s Your Call” project was born out of work by FURD’s Youth Against Conflict Group, a band of young volunteers which was set up in 2005 to try and find solutions to problems arising from local young people ‘falling out’, and to learn from similar initiatives in other towns and cities, including Warrington, Burnley and London.
The film is being premiered in front of an invited audience of teachers, youth workers, youth offending workers and educationalists, on Wednesday November 19, at 4.30pm at Showroom Five on Paternoster Row, Sheffield. Contact us if you'd like an invitation.
The DVD is for sale for £25 or for a discounted price of £15 at the launch. Alternatively, it can be borrowed from the FURD library.
For more information about the film project contact Mehrun Ahmed or Asim Shazad at FURD on 0114 255 3156.