A Brighter World (Social Justice Drama)

When I planned to introduce the concept of social justice-based art to the girls home in Bangalore, a home very special to me because I had lived there over seven years earlier, I only had vague inklings of what they might come up with. When it came time in the process to question the girls on what they cared about, what really felt important to them, I was blown away by their insight on the injustices around them. They chose to focus their project on stigma—some they have witnessed in their communities and others they have experienced personally. When I asked them what was good in their world, they were very unanimous that their experience of family in this home, with all of its acceptance and love despite differing blood and background, was the best thing they have known in their lives. So the thrust of their drama became exposing the ugly presence of stigma in our world but then casting those same scenes in a different light, in the spirit of the family they have known. Without giving any more away, I am pleased to present this beautiful, student-driven, theatrical film titled "A Brighter World." †

A key component to creating social justice pieces is involving surrounding communities, so that there can be an impact. The finished video was presented to a collection of people, many working in the education field. After the presentation, the girls asked the audience about their experiences with stigma. Here are some pictures from their first live presentation: