This is Part One, of a three part blog about a film I contributed to earlier in 2009.

I've been waiting to share with you a documentary film that has been several months in the making. In early 2009 I travelled with Rebecca Sweetman - PSP Director, Andrea Maldonado - Peru Project Coordinator, and me Kamil Bialous as the Project Photographer to document in film and stills a novel approach to dealing with food security. Editing was by the great Natasha Nancekivell.

But first, about the organization:  The Paradigm Shift Project is an exciting new type of a social media-creating NGO. "The Paradigm Shift Project (PSP) aims to advance education on important issues relating to poverty, ecology, health and community development in developing countries. Through the production of documentary films and educational materials that are informed by local communities and those who work to help them, PSP works to demystify international development for the general public through education initiatives, and teach our youth how each individual can help to create positive change in our society."

Their most recent film, From the Earth To the Pot- urban agriculture & food security in lima, peru, is a sub-20 minute reality check about the case for urban gardening, sustainable urban agriculture, and rethinking our solutions to food security challenges. You can check it out below, or on Vimeo (linked), or on PSP's website. I strongly urge you to watch the version on PSP's website here, as it contains some interesting anecdotal information about the film, as well as allows you to look in to their other projects, to which you can contribute.

Part Two of the Blog will be a feature of my images from the documentary, and Part Three will be a slide show of selected images with comments about my approach to documentary photography. Stay tuned!

And now, for the film...

Here's a short writeup about the film by PSP:

"Among many of Lima’s slum neighborhoods, urban agriculture projects have increasingly become a strategy to improve food security and make communities safer and greener. Community gardening programs throughout Lima are generating greater access to fresh nutritious food, thereby helping to break cycles of poverty and hunger. For this film The Paradigm Shift Project interviewed non-profit organizations; several community garden members and urban farmers; researchers from local nutritional and agricultural institutes; as well as local municipal authorities. These interviews elucidated and documented the impact of urban agriculture projects on communities and families. It also provided a means for local participants to assert their specific needs in terms of food security and what types of support are required to continue and further these vital projects."

PSP and I would love for you to distribute this film as widely as possible. Send the film links to your friends and family, as well as anyone you may think is interested in these important topics.

Thanks!

Kamil

Tags: agricultura urbana, andrea maldonado, challenge, Community Development, desert, documentary, Documentary Film, documentary photography, film, Food Security, From the Earth to the Pot, IPES, lima, marginalization, MEC, movie, Natasha Nancekivell, ngo, obstacles, Paradigm Shift Project, peru, poverty, psp, rebecca sweetman, south america, sustainable agriculture, Urban Agricultre, urban agriculture, urban gardening, video