NEWS

BYkids is selected as one of the most impactful and scalable innovations in the world by global education non-profit HundrED.

HundrED, a Finnish education non-profit, chose BYkids is part of the 2022 Global Collection that highlights 100 leading global innovations in K-12 education.

Chosen from 2,657 submissions that were reviewed by 120 education experts, we are thrilled to be recognized for our impact and scalability. One voter says, “One of the best examples of BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD. A initiative which empowers the kids to be agents of change rather than millions of others who consider themselves as victims of the system.”

Check out the full report to learn more about the top 100 innovations creating positive change in education around the world! READ REPORT

BYkids attends to Story Movements conference in DC at the Planet Word Museum organized by the Center for Media and Social Impact at American University and lead by Caty Borum Chattoo and her team.

Story Movements examines platforms and genres of civic media storytelling through the lens of social justice and social inequality. From documentary film to comedy to the entertainment industry to creative storytelling activism and beyond, the convening examines and captures the current and future-looking moment in story-led demands for social change.

It was an engaging two days discussing “Leveraging Culture and Storytelling to Create Spaces for Human Connection and Solidarity”, “Harnessing Creativity, Culture, and Narrative in Contemporary Social Justice Movements”, “Changing the Cultural Mirror in Hollywood” and “Expanding the Lens in the Future of Entertainment Storytelling” with many leaders in the field.

The Center for Media & Social Impact (CMSI) is a creative innovation lab and research center that focuses on media for equity and social justice. Our work bridges boundaries between scholars, media producers, social justice organizations, and communication practitioners.

BYkids partners with TheaterWorksUSA to create a music video for an original song by songwriter Rotana Tarbzouni that captures the power of Faiza Almontaser’s BYkids film, POET AGAINST PREJUDICE, about being a Muslim immigrant in New York and her courageous and inspiring journey from victim to activist. WATCH HERE

TheaterWorksUSA creates transformative theatrical experiences that are accessible to young and family audiences in diverse communities. BYkids was honored to partner on this project to elevate the voice of talented young people about pressing global issues to use as catalysts for empathy, connection and change.

Discovery Education, our longstanding distribution partner, launches a new BYkids channel.

In partnership with Discovery Education, the worldwide edtech leader whose state-of-the-art digital platform supports learning wherever it takes place, we share our thirteen films and teacher resources promoting empathy and understanding to help make global issues feel personal, relevant and actionable for millions of students.

“We are excited to bring BYkids content to teachers and students worldwide through our award-winning K-12 platform,” said Robin Porter, Discovery Education’s Vice President of Digital Content. Created by students for students, BYkids engaging films provide students a new understanding of different cultures, issues, and experiences from around the world.”

“BYkids is thrilled to have this platform to help ignite important conversations around human dignity and social justice and inspire a new generation of social activists,” says Holly Carter, Founder and Executive Director of BYkids.

Discovery Education serves approximately 4.5 million educators and 45 million students worldwide, and its resources are accessed in over 140 countries and territories. Inspired by the global media company Discovery, Inc., Discovery Education partners with districts, states and trusted organizations like BYkids to empower teachers with leading edtech solutions that support the success of all learners.

Thank you Ability Magazine and writer Karina Ulrike Sturm for the wonderful profile of our work and FAITH’S WORLD.

“When the world starts listening to children or young adults, great things happen. Over recent years, more and more children began advocating for their cause – whether it is Greta Thunberg and her work around climate change or Malala Yousafzai and her fight for female education – and their voices influenced not only public opinion but also caused political action. However, children still aren’t getting the attention they deserve. Holly Carter wanted to change that. Her organization BYkids allows children and young adults to produce documentary films and show their world from their perspective. ABILITY Magazine’s Karina Sturm talks to journalist, filmmaker and founder Holly Carter about the organization, as well as to Faith Guilbault, one of the young adults producing a film about her life with cerebral palsy.” READ ABILITY MAGAZINE ARTICLE

Thanks to Thirteen WNET New York for including seven BYkids films in their “Gen Z Life in Documentaries and Dramas” showcase.

Gen Z life today is shown in this series, with seven films from BYkids’ Gen Z filmmakers including AGAINST THE CURRENT, L’CHAIM, FAITH’S WORLD, I COULD TELL YOU ‘BOUT MY LIFE, BUDDHISM, BHUTAN AND ME, POET AGAINST PREJUDICE and MY BEAUTIFUL NICARAGUA.

WATCH THE FILMS

We partnered with Maine Community Integration and the John T. Gorman Foundation to bring our new film institute to the city of Lewiston. Elizabeth Hummer, an award-winning BYkids film mentor, worked with 16 young women from Lewiston to teach them how to capture and tell their stories on film. They worked to document developments in Lewiston mean for them and their community.

BYkids is thrilled that James M. Brasher, Founding Principal, Development Counsel, has joined the board. Jim is a chief strategist, development and communications officer with major clients including The Carter Center, the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) at Georgetown University and the Global Fund for Children. Jim is the Founding Director of Global Philanthropists Circle with Peggy Dulany and David Rockefeller. In addition to the BYkids Board, he serves as a trustee of Future Generations University, Madoo Conservancy and LongHouse Reserve.  He lives in Sagaponack, NY.