The Producers of the Documentary Film WALKING UNDER WATER are Establishing a School for the Badjao Children of Borneo

Last year, the documentary film WALKING UNDER WATER was released to international acclaim. This movie about the Alexan, the last Badjao compressor diver in Borneo, earned numerous honors at the Hot Docs Film Festival in Toronto and the Planete Doc Review in Warsaw.  WALKING UNDER WATER inspired international interest in the plight of the gypsy Badjao people of Indonesia and Malaysia.  In their home country, the Badjao people are without legal status, preventing their children from attending school.

The producers behind WALKING UNDER WATER which include director Eliza Kubarska, producer Monika Braid, and producer Stefan Kloos are now working to create a permanent school for the disenfranchised Badjao children. Currently, the majority of Badjao children that receive an education do so through charity organizations rather than through government supported institutions.  However, because of the overwhelming poverty of most Badjao families, children rarely receive a full education; most Badjao children work to help support their families.

The WALKING UNDER WATER team would like to establish a school for Alexan’s community on the island of Mabul.  This project would include a permanent school building, tables, books, writing supplies, electrical generator and a permanent teacher.  To convince families to allow their children to be schooled, water and snacks will be provided to students, as well as a small financial incentive for the parents.

This project can dramatically alter the lives of these young people, but it requires a sizable investment.  In order to secure the necessary funds to complete the project, the project leaders have begun a fundraising campaign on Indiegogo. Financial contributors will receive movie DVD’s, signed posters, gallery prints, and the opportunity to visit the school.  The goal of the campaign is to raise $18,000, but however much is raised will go towards providing some type of school for the Badjao children. To learn more about this project or to make a donation, please visit https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sari-goes-to-school.

 

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Media Contact
Company Name:Sari Goes To School
Contact Person: Monika Braid
Email:monika.braid@gmail.com
Country: United States
Website: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/sari-goes-to-school