Video Workshop for Himalayan Youth

Himalayan youth presenting their ideas regarding media

Saturday, September 24, 2011 -  At the Ninth Street Independent Film Center, the Center for Asian American Media (CAAM), TILT, and Sahayeta held a youth media literacy and video production workshop for approximately 19 Himalayan Youth. The Himalayan community is a lesser-known minority group in the US, but the workshop is working to change this by increasing the visibility of Himalayan peoples via media access and training.

Himalayan youth filled a room with black curtains and black walls, reminiscent of the set of “Inside the

Actors Studio”.  They had come in early on a grey Saturday morning, a feat onto itself, to attend the opening day of the workshop.

Kar Yin Tham from CAAM leading discussion

With Kar Yin Tham from CAAM facilitating, the workshop began with representatives from different organizations, including CHAA, speaking to participants about the importance of media, culture and self–expression. Long time community leader, Thepo Tulku, spoke of the importance of maintaining culture and being able to show their unique cultural views to others. He mentioned the spiritual aspects of peace in Himalayan cultures and how concepts of peace could be expressed through these young people in media to create a positive impact on the world.

After the presentations, the students were asked to participate as they broke out into smaller groups to discuss what issues they
faced as Himalayan youth in

Participant presenting his group ideas

America. As groups made their presentations on butcher paper, there were humorous anecdotes about getting lost in US classrooms and disagreements with parents about miniskirts. The background of these individual discussions were serious, however, as youth participants spoke out eagerly about their experiences and their ideas on ways to express themselves more freely. Communication with parents was a topic of focus as many participants (and some parents in the audience) thought of ways to connect the younger generation, who are often interested in integrating into their new culture and have the desire to explore new things such as diverse career paths, and the older generation, who often try to hold on strongly to valued cultural norms from their homelands.  Youth participants made it clear that they wanted to hold onto their cultural roots, but also wanted to create the space to explore new paths when it came to creativity, expression and future career goals.

The Himalayan Youth Video Workshop will run until December 3^rd.  Participants will have the opportunity to make group films in the workshop that will later be shown at CAAM’s Asian American Film Festival in San Francisco.  It is an exciting opportunity for young people to get media training and use their skills and ideas to exhibit their ideas to their own communities and beyond.


To see more photos of the Himalayan youth workshops go to here and here.

Photographs by S. Nadia Hussain

Posted by S. Nadia Hussain