NEWS

A UN Ambassador on Bhutan and BYkids

Panelists speak about the culture and resilience of Bhutan and preparing youth for the future in a virtual chat after screening BUDDHISM, BHUTAN AND ME. The BYkids film, by 18-year-old Rinzin Jurmey, documents how he – and his country –strive to preserve ancient practices and tradition under globalization’s pressure to modernize.

Panelists include H.E. Ambassador Doma Tshering (permanent representative of Bhutan to the United Nations), Holly Carter (BYkids founder and executive director) and Cat Papadimitriou (filmmaker and BYkids mentor). BYkids is honored to partner with the United Nations Association of New York in presenting this event.

BYkids Measures 14 Years of Impact

Thanks to board member Stephanie Apt for dreaming up how to capture the profound impact of our work and our original story. Thanks to Stephanie for engaging the talented editor, Alyce Muhammad, and everyone at her production company, Final Cut, and to Javier Arau for the music.

Building a Community of BYkids Collaborators

After two years of Zoom, BYkids was delighted to host a full-house screening of FAITH’S WORLD, the inspiring story by Faith Guilbault about life with cerebral palsy. Following the film was a a lively conversation about building new funding and creative partnerships to boost the sustainability and impact of our work.

On May 29, we look forward to another gathering in the Hamptons to share stories through film that address climate change, advance learning, support racial and social equity, and spur action worldwide. 

Screening and conversation at Soho House

“AGAINST THE CURRENT” Selected by the Scarab Short Film Festival in Dubai

Congratulations to BYkids director Daunnette Reyome and BYkids mentor, Evan Mascagni! The Scarab Short Film Festival has selected AGAINST THE CURRENT for their upcoming festival in Dubai!

The Scarab Short Film Festival (SSFF) is an internationally regarded independent short film festival that brings independent global cinema to the world stage. The festival is held in different countries each year. Dubai is hosting the next Scarab Short Film Festival and the online screening will be accessible to all.

Faith Guilbault, Director of “FAITH’S WORLD,” Featured in Assembly

Thanks to Mekita Rivas, writer and editor with Assembly, for a profile of Faith Guilbault, director of FAITH’S WORLD. Assembly is the digital publication of the Malala Fund.

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Screenings of 12-year-old Edelsin Linette Mendez’s “My Beautiful Nicaragua” for educators

BYkids hosted two special screenings for educators in March. Talking with kids about climate change can be difficult to navigate and we gave educators a chance to hear Edelsin Mendez, age 12, tell her family’s story in her 27-minute film.

Season Four Films Around Climate Crisis are Underway

Season Four will address the climate crisis. Many young people are acutely aware that they face a future impacted by the negative effects of climate change. Now they are leading the call to promote climate justice.

To meet this moment, we will support four visionary young storytellers, supplying professional mentors and high-level production capabilities — hallmarks of the BYkids approach. We have two films in production by a teen climate activist in Germany and a beekeeper seeking environmental justice in Kentucky. We are also planning to address ocean health and immigration.

These Season Four filmmakers will bring diverse perspectives on how climate change is affecting their communities, and how young movement leaders are responding to this challenge.

We know from experience that their perspectives will surprise us, and that their stories will resonate with audiences across America and beyond.

Two Anthem Awards in Education, Art & Culture

BYkids wins TWO Anthem Awards for best non-profit in Education, Art & Culture honoring our long-lasting impact and recognizing the breadth of our social good work around the world.  

The International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences chose BYkids as the Silver winner in two categories for non-profits in Education, Art & Culture: Best Strategy and Best Campaign in the inaugural Anthem Awards.  

“BYkids is leading the way in the Impact Industry,” says Jessica Lauretti, Managing Director, The Anthem Awards. “It is our distinct honor to recognize your work for systemic change.”  

BYkids was selected from nearly 2,500 entries from 36 countries by the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences by social impact leaders including Daniel Dae Kim (actor and activist), Ashley Judd (actor and social justice humanitarian) and Shayla Tait (director of philanthropy, The Oprah Winfrey Charitable Foundation).  

Presented by The Webby Awards, the Anthem Awards amplify the voices that spark global change and are defining a new benchmark for impactful work that inspires others to take action in their communities. Founded in partnership with the Ad Council, Born This Way Foundation, Feeding America, Glaad, Mozilla, NAACP, NRDC, WWF and XQ.  

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Holly Carter/BYkids Wins Global Media Educator Award

Holly Carter, founder and Executive Director of BYkids, has been awarded the Global Media Educator Award in 2021 by The MY HERO Project as part of their 17th Annual International Film Festival. Jeanne Meyers, director and co-founder of the MY HERO Project, stated: “If we care about the power of media to transform and educate and inspire, then her role in doing that one story at a time is profound.” READ MORE

Since 1995, over 100 million people from 197 countries have participated in The MY HERO Project, an award-winning program that raises awareness for the work being done by “heroes” globally to address the greatest challenges of our time. They work to promote cross-cultural communication, human rights, environmental awareness, tolerance, media literacy and the arts.

BYKIDS REPRESENTS AT TED WOMEN 2021

BYkids is proud to be invited to the TEDWomen conference, celebrating the power of women and girls to be creators and change-makers. Over three days and six sessions at TEDWomen 2021, more than 40 speakers and performers shared ideas that spanned the globe and drew from across cultures and disciplines to answer the question: What now? For the final session, speakers explored the biggest question of all — What now for the future? — and encouraged us to imagine another world and fight for it.