Sara Alcid and Kristal Detwiler have a hard time sitting still and watching things pass them by, especially when it comes to violations of human rights. On Tuesday, March 20, at 6:30 p.m. at The Community School Theater in Sun Valley, the two Community School seniors will take it upon themselves to hold their very own "Human Rights Film Festival" to raise money to aid victims of genocide in Darfur and for a school in Haiti.
On a very grass-roots level, both Alcid and Detwiler have found themselves drawn to international human rights issues and have learned very early in life that they can make difference.
"A couple of years ago we organized an art auction for tsunami and hurricane victims," said Alcid. "For community service, the leadership team does a project every year for the larger community, and it's a big fundraiser. This one is important because of Reed Lindsey, and we want to support him," said Detwiler.
Lindsey, an alumnus of The Community School, is a journalist living in a poor Haiti community and has been involved in a community effort to better the village of Jacquet.
Lindsey is working at the AVJ school that he started with a group of Haitians called the neighborhood Assembly of Jacquet. He is hoping to raise money for other schools in Haiti, which are free and being run by volunteers with no money or books.
In addition, the two seniors would like to raise money to stop the genocide in Darfur.
"We are selling green bracelets and, hopefully, the "Darfur: A Call for Compassion" exhibit (at the Sun Valley Center for the Arts in Ketchum) will inspire people to come," Alcid said.
Donations can be made at the screening event, and a petition asking nations to stop supporting the "Janjaweed," the Sudanese government-backed militia that is carrying out the massive genocide in Darfur, will be available.
Alcid and Detwiler are interested in studying international business at college and hope to continue their humanitarian crisis awareness.
The films will range in subjects such as sex trafficking, sweat shops and child labor, as well as larger issues such as U.S. foreign policy and, of course, about the tragedy of Darfur.
Admission for the "Human Rights Film Festival" is $5 at the door.
