Our Everyday Lives Portugal

The idea for this youth exchange originated from the desire of Mouth That Roars to extend their work internationally, to give marginalized young people a chance to learn about each other and celebrate their differences.

Over the years training young people to make their own films and documentaries about their lives has led to a need being identified. Young people need to learn about other cultures and religions around the world in order to understand the global society that we now live in.

A great deal of young people that have worked with MTR have expressed a desire to visit other countries and make a film or documentary to investigate what life is like outside of the UK. This will enable them to experience for themselves life in a different country and to base their understanding on that experience.

MTRs aim is to challenge the mis/preconceptions of other cultures other than our own. By the young people documenting their whole experience together, from dawn to dusk, not only will they have explored each others lives but in addition other young people will see their journey of discovery. Therefore enabling many young people to gain from this experience on the whole. Our main themes in conjunction with the British Councils aims are: anti racism/ xenophobia and media & communications.

MTR Director – Denise Rose discovered our partner group, Undi Ki Da Ki Panha during a research trip to Portugal. A keen interest in this exchange was formed between both parties and the opportunity to work as partners was discussed in depth as both parties are optimistic about the projects benefits.

The young people are actively involved in each stage of the film project. They have begun by participating in the planning and preparation of the exchange devising questions about the people and the country that they are going to visit such as 'what is there education system like?', 'Do they live on an estate like ours?’ The young people will also decide the roles and responsibilities that they take on during the exchange and for the making of the documentary.

More photos from Portugal »