Powerful videos about a transgender teenager and a gay teenager forced out of home are among the finalists in a national video competition.
Videos for Change empowers high school students around the country to create one-minute videos to raise awareness and inspire change on the social issues that affect them most.
Among the finalists is the video “A Home Without Love”, created by students Jake and Kai, about LGBTIQ homelessness and homophobia.
“I was kicked out of my own home by my own father at the drop of two powerful words, ‘I’m gay,'” Kai says in the video.
“An average of 40 per cent of homeless youth are a result of these words, and now I’m a part of that stat.”
In the video “Why I Skate”, transgender teenager and skateboarder Skye opens up about an experience with transphobia.
“Even though the skating community is very accepting and it doesn’t matter if you’re rich or poor, your skin colour or how good or bad you are, I had an experience with some people who haven’t accepted me for who I am, and it sucked,” Skye explains.
“But that’s why I love skating, it feels like freedom and nothing matters except you and your board.”
Watch the entries below:
As well as LGBTIQ issues, the competition’s 20 finalists also explore issues like youth suicide, bullying, racism, mental health, and sustainability.
The winners of the competition, created by education provider High Resolves, will have the chance to reach a national audience on Network Ten’s “The Project” and share in over $12,000 in prizes.
You can vote for your favourite video to win the People’s Choice Award in the competition by heading to the Videos For Change website before this Sunday (October 28) and you could win one of twenty $100 vouchers from Platypus Shoes.
“We have been blown away by the number and quality of videos submitted to this year’s challenge,” Videos for Change executive director Roya Baghai said.
“It’s a unique opportunity for youth to have a voice, to inspire their own communities and people across the world by speaking out about issues that affect us all.”
