BE a brother campaign
(PRODUCTION assistant, SYMPOSIUM CO-COORDINATOR, 2015-2017)
Be a Brother was an innovative campaign using video and social media co-designed by cohealth, filmmaker Ez Eldin Deng and a group of young African men living in Melbourne’s West committed to finding solutions around issues facing their community.
The Be A Brother film project involved the creation of a three short films that introduce the idea that a good brother supports his friends to drink less. The message behind Be A Brother is that you can drink but you need to know your own limits. Ask your friends to drink less. Let’s change the perception of young African alcoholism and see our own stories that will project ourselves in a positive light.
The campaign encouraged Young African-Australian men to signup as ‘brothers’, then they were linked with trained peer mentors who provided them with advice on how to reduce heavy drinking, delivered through SMS messaging and face to face support. The short films were launched in Footscray at the Footscray Community Arts Centre and was accompanied by a symposium and a series of community conversations.
The ‘Be Part of the Solution’ symposium facilitated a community conversation through panel discussions about issues faced by African communities, which explored the use of creative arts to engage and mobilise communities. The event also launched the Be a Brother documentary directed by Ez Eldin Deng and showcased some fresh African Australian talent.
Directed by Ez Eldin Deng
part 1: Brothers at night
part 2: deep inside
part 3: your future
