Inspire Your Community to Help End Global Poverty Through the Power of Cinema

There is an abundance of powerful films available to the public that highlight the problems and, most importantly, the solutions to global poverty for which we advocate. Some of the films land squarely within our global campaigns, and a few others highlight the problems and solutions in an American context. Through the impact of story and image, film is a wonderful way to illustrate what we do and why we do it.

Here are some selections that have crossed our desk:

A Motherland Tour — Powerful stories of women across Africa who are on the front lines of the struggle to end extreme poverty in their countries. Featuring Yvonne Chaka Chaka.

Bonsai People — The continuing tale of Muhammad Yunus and Grameen Bank’s work in expanding social business for the end of poverty

Building Hope — Watch the construction of Mahiga Hope High School, the first school of its kind in that area of Africa.

Girl Rising — Showcases the power of education to change the lives of girls and, consequently, the world

Half the Sky — Documentary companion to the book by Pulitzer Prize-winning journalists Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn

How to Survive a Plague — Academy Award-nominated documentary chronicles HIV/AIDS activism as it unfolded in the United States in the early 1980s

The Line — Think extreme poverty doesn’t exist in America? Think again.

To Catch a Dollar — Follow the tale of microfinance coming to the U.S. through the power of Grameen America.

Check out the website for any film you choose, as each has its own details on local screenings and steps to hosting a screening of your own.

Then, when you have worked out a screening and discussion night, try these next steps:

1. Make sure you have our FY 2014 global poverty appropriations requests on hand! Go to our website and copy the request that matches the film and your request.
2. Invite those attending to go with you to a scheduled meeting with your member of Congress to make the requests. They’ll be amazed that a night of cinema could so quickly transform them into an effective advocate for the end of poverty!