Two student documentary filmmakers from the School of English & Media Studies have been sponsored by the World Heart Federation to fly to Melbourne this weekend for the Youth Take Action Workshop at the World Congress of Cardiology.

Janaya Soma and Catherine Moreau-Hammond (both Massey Bachelor of Communication graduates studying Expressive Arts as part of their BC Honours year) have been filming a documentary about the ‘Smokefree It’s My Life’ youth activism project, under the supervision of English & Media Studies staffmembers Dr Radha O’Meara and Dr Elspeth Tilley.  Janaya has also been heavily involved in research and event management for the project, and has just had her writing about the project published in Tearaway Magazine (see her story at http://issuu.com/magazinestoday/docs/tearaway_term1_2_2014/25?e=1842483/7627406).

The World Heart Federation has provided a grant of US$2000 to fly the pair to Melbourne to share their documentary footage, and insights into what they’ve learned about by-youth for-youth anti-tobacco activism from being part of It’s My Life, with health professionals and other young people from all around the world.  While there they will also have the chance to learn from other young people and top health communication experts, and report back to New Zealand on the global youth anti-tobacco movement.

Once they finish editing and post-production on their footage, Catherine and Janaya’s documentary will be made available as a DVD to school students throughout New Zealand, as a resource for youth activism initiatives.

Musician James van der Maas was part of the smokefree youth event that Janaya organised, and will also feature as an interviewee in the students’ documentary of the project.