THE WHITE HELMETS MOVIE A GUIDE TO HOSTING A SCREENING
CONTENTS
INTRO SLIDE WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING? MAKING THE WHITE HELMETS FAMOUS RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE HERO FUND ORGANISE TO STOP THE BOMBS THE PRACTICALITIES KEY THINGS TO READ AND WATCH
HOW ONE SCREENING MAKES A DIFFERENCE By doing this you are joining a movement of hundreds of thousands of people around the world doing everything they can to make sure the world knows and supports Syria’s heroes to save lives and stop the bombs. Every day the White Helmets risk their lives to save others -- when the bombs rain down, the White Helmets rush in. In a place where public services no longer function these unarmed volunteers help anyone in need, regardless of their religion or politics. These volunteer rescue workers have saved over 60,000 lives. Bakers, tailors, engineers, pharmacists, painters, carpenters, students and many more, the White Helmets are volunteers from all walks of life. Many have paid the ultimate price for their compassion -more than 140 have been killed while saving others. This is one of the hardest jobs in the world and for these brave volunteers to know they have people around the world who have their back gives them a much needed morale boost. We aren’t White Helmets but by organising these screenings and carrying their messages we are taking their commitment to humanity and peace around the world.
WHAT ARE YOU PLANNING?
“WHEN I WANT TO SAVE SOMEONE’S LIFE I DON’T CARE IF HE’S AN ENEMY OR A FRIEND. WHAT CONCERNS ME IS THE SOUL THAT MIGHT DIE” ABED, THE WHITE HELMETS
You’re probably screening this film because you love the White Helmets and think everyone who watches the film will love them too. So what can you do to help people support the White Helmets when they come to your screening? Here are three objectives to think about. Maybe you want to do all three? Or just focus on one? Whatever your goals, there are ideas for actions people can take related to each of these things on the following pages.
1. Make the White Helmets Famous While newspaper headlines are dominated by dictators and extremists we know Syria has heroes and the world should know about them. At your screening there is lots you can do to help share the story of the White Helmets, to share hope.
2. Raise money to support the Hero Fund The White Helmets ‘Hero Fund’ provides funds to treat these injured volunteers and support the families of those killed whilst saved lives. It relies entirely on donations from individuals around the world and your screening can help support this.
3. Organise to stop the bombs The White Helmets dream is that the bombs stop so they can live in peace and rebuild their country. The violence in Syria could stop tomorrow if the political will was there. Use the screening to talk about the politics and what the international community can be doing the stop the violence.
“WE CAN ONLY EASE THE SUFFERING OF OUR PEOPLE, WE NEED THE INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY TO END IT.” RAED AL SALEH, HEAD OF THE WHITE HELMETS
MAKING THE WHITE HELMETS FAMOUS Brilliant that you want to use the screening to make the White Helmets famous. Here’s five ideas for things you can do as a group at your screening.
Share a picture Give the White Helmets a rush of love from around the world. At the screening take one picture with all your participants, ideally holding up a message, and share it on social media tagging all your friends. Within hours dozens of your friends will see the picture and want to know more. If you want the White Helmets to see the picture please email it to screenings@thesyriacampaign. org where we’ll be collating them.
The Power of Five Like it or loathe it Facebook is a powerful tool for reaching others. At your event ask all participants to share a link to the film and tag at least five friends who should watch the film. Not on social media? Ask them to email five friends. With ten people in the room you’ve reached fifty people.
Review the film From the latest box sets to Hollywood films people are always suggesting things we “must watch”. Can everyone at the party write a short review of the film on their social media, on text message or in an email to their friends?
Add a zero Once everyone in the room has watched it what can you do as a group to ‘add a zero’ to the number of people in the room that have watched? Can you take on organising another screening as a group or as individuals? So if there are ten of you in the room can you organise a screening for 100? Or ten screenings of ten?
“WE GO TO SAVE AS MANY PEOPLE AS WE CAN. IF ONE PERSON WAS ALIVE THAT’S ENOUGH FOR US TO TAKE THE RISK” KHALED FARAH, WHITE HELMET
RAISE MONEY TO SUPPORT THE HERO FUND
Once you’ve watched the film it’ll be hard not to want to sell all of your possessions to support the White Helmets. Every penny raised goes directly to supporting wounded volunteers and the families of volunteers who have been killed saving lives. And every penny matters -- whether you can give a lot or a little it makes a difference. Here are some ideas of how you can use screenings to raise money to support these heroes.
Donate a ticket price The lucky invitees are getting the full cinematic experience. Ask people to donate the price of a movie ticket in your local theatre.
The Extras We all associate going to the cinema with snacks and drinks. Can you provide drinks and snacks and ask people to donate for every tasty treat they consume?
Collection Boxes Lay out collection boxes around the room and ask people to give what they can when leaving the room -- whether it’s the coins from the bottom of their bags or something bigger every penny counts.
Donate a Day Every day the White Helmets give their all to save lives. Can you suggest to your guests that if they can, they pledge to donate a day’s wages to the Hero Fund? They can either do this online at https://herofund.whitehelmets.org/donate/crowdfund/ or give to you at the event.
Put Your Heads Together After the screening, come together to make a plan to raise funds. Try arranging other events like bake sales or coffee mornings where you can not only raise funds but also speak to people about the amazing work of the White Helmets. You can even hit the streets! With a little planning (you might have to get permission from local authorities for certain areas) you can do some public fundraising with just a few buckets and a bit of positivity. You can donate to the Hero Fund at this link: https://herofund.whitehelmets.org/donate/crowdfund/ Email
[email protected] if you have any questions.
ORGANISE TO STOP THE BOMBS The aerial attacks you see in the film are the biggest killer of civilians in Syria. We can only end these massacres with action from the international community. World leaders, our leaders, will have to come together and place real pressure the Syrian regime and Russia to targeting civilians and their homes and schools and hospitals with airstrikes.
It starts with a conversation We know that what’s happening in Syria can feel very complicated and confused by the complexity people feel unable to know what to do. After the film is over, start the conversation on what is needed to stop the aerial attacks on civilians and what you and your group can do to help. A good kickstarter for this conversation can for someone to read the statement Raed Al Saleh, Head of the White Helmets gave to the United Nations Security Council. Raed Al Saleh: “As a patriotic Syrian, I never imagined I would do this”https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/as-a-patrioticsyrian-i-never-imagined-i-would-do-this/
Reading Circle At the end of this document is a list of some of most insightful and useful articles to help better understand the how Syria’s peaceful uprising turned into bloody conflict. You can either all take a turn to read an article to each other or pass them around -- the most important thing is that you make time to discuss them and talk about how you can take this understanding to others.
Get Writing It’s critical that decision makers who have the power to stop the violence in Syria hear from their constituents. After the screening and conversation can you sit as a group and draft letters to your elected representatives? All you need to do is provide some pen, paper and envelopes. Nothing is more effective than your decision makers hearing that you want them to act to protect civilians.
Pledge to Visit your Elected Representative Contact your representative’s office and request a meeting as a group of constituents. In the meeting, press upon your representative to do everything in their power to stop the bombs. Try to get a firm commitment from your representative on bringing up the issue in the press, convening a meeting or even passing new legislation around the need to protect civilians in Syria. Ask them to screen the movie for their colleagues.
Hold a Demo/Vigil outside a target building 140 volunteers of the White Helmets have lost their lives while saving others. It is very important to the White Helmets that their colleagues are remembered for their bravery and their sacrifice in service of humanity. You can host a demonstration or a vigil to stop the violence in Syria and remember Syria’s fallen volunteers outside a significant location in your town and city -- perhaps a famous monument or building? Take pictures and email them to
[email protected]. Share them on social media to show solidarity with the White Helmets.
THE PRACTICALITIES
Location: Arrange a space where you can comfortably hold your screening; a community hall, your home, a university lecture room, your local school... anywhere that you have a screen and enough space for people to attend. The Equipment: You’ll be able to stream the documentary directly from Netflix (if you’re not a member, you can sign up for month’s trial for free) so all you need is a TV or a projector that you can show it on as well as working internet and speakers or a sound system if you’re holding a larger gathering. Make sure to test these out before people show up!
Getting People There - Online: Try setting up a Facebook event and inviting all your friends. Repetition is key so try to talk about it regularly in the run up to the event. Share things that will get people excited like the documentary trailer and these videos. Trailer: https://www.facebook.com/netflixus/videos/10153890046878870/?pnref=story Miracle Baby: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6h0VDhENotI This is what a hero looks like: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=W1NguKirQDg The White Helmets nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize: https://www.facebook.com/TheSyriaCampaign/videos/1115954308496581/
- Offline: If you’re feeling ambitious, why not try putting up some posters or doing some flyering? There are some handy templates that you can download here and make your own. - Reach out directly: Get those emails and WhatsApp messages going! Speak to your friends and family, get them to attend and then ask them to reach out too. Something simple like trying to get your friends to all bring one guest along can make a big difference. Thinking big?: If you’re planning on getting a big group together, then we’d love to hear about it in advance. Please take two minutes to let us know what you have in mind and if you need any specific assistance via this form: https://docs. google.com/a/thesyriacampaign.org/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfsWhWufUjZYr7e4BnIlPahsZ27W_TZ76_VPK__eW7VBcSIrA/ viewform
AFTER THE SCREENING Send your guests some key links
Let us know
With the film still fresh in their minds, people will be ready to take action. Send them the link to the Hero Fund and get them to sign on to the campaign for the White Helmets to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Encourage them to write a short review of the film on Facebook and encourage people to watch. Remind people on the action points you decided and if there’s any next steps for the group.
The White Helmets should know that people are watching the film and engaging with their cause across the world. Tell us about the event at
[email protected]. Share any pictures of the event you have as well as people’s reactions to the film.
Hero Fund https://herofund.whitehelmets.org/donate/crowdfund/ The Nobel Peace Prize for the White Helmets https://nobelpeaceprize.whitehelmets.org/en
KEY THINGS TO READ AND WATCH READ Whoever Saves a Life, Matt Aikens (Article) A long read article from award winning journalist Matt Aikens who embedded with the White Helmets in Aleppo. https://medium.com/matter/whoever-saves-a-life-1aaea20b782 Burning Country: Syrians in Revolution and War, Robin Yassin-Kassab and Laila Al Shami (Book) A definitive book on the Syria revolution and its democratic ideals http://www.amazon.com/Burning-Country-Syrians-Revolution-War/dp/0745336221 Stop the ‘barrel bombs’ in Syria (Article) An opinion piece from Raed al Sahel, Head of White Helmets, on what needs to happen to stop the violence https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/stop-thebarrel-bombs-the-deadliest-weapons-in-syrias-civilwar/2015/03/27/c983d024-cf4e-11e4-8a46-b1dc9be5a8ff_story.html The town is full of skeleton-like people walking in a daze (Article) Syrian Doctors are heroes -- read this account of the lengths they go to treat patients against the odds https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/a-doctors-dispatch/ Syria: The Facts and Figures (Article) What’s happening in Syria can be seem complicated. This data helps paint the true picture of what’s happening. https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/whats-happening-tocivilians-in-syria/
Planet Syria FAQ: No-Bombing Zone (Article) Planet Syria is a network of Syrian peace activists. They are asking for a ‘no bombing zone’ -- this article breaks down what it means and smashes myths about intervention. https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/planet-syria-faq-nobombing-zone/ Documenting Evil: Inside Assad’s Hospital of Horrors (Article) http://www.vanityfair.com/news/2015/06/assad-war-crimes-syria-torture-caesar-hospital Watching My Beloved Aleppo Rip Itself Apart The White Helmets movie is set in Aleppo. In this article Lina Sergie writes about the battle for her city and what it means for civilians. http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/14/opinion/sunday/watching-my-beloved-aleppo-rip-itself-apart.html?_r=0 An address to the UN Security Council Raed al Sahel, Head of the White Helmets gave this blistering address to the UN Security Council. A must read to understand what the White Helmets want. https://diary.thesyriacampaign.org/as-a-patriotic-syrian-inever-imagined-i-would-do-this/ What does the future hold for Syria’s people? Read this to better understand Syria’s hidden local democracy and what could be next for the country http://www.thenational.ae/arts-life/the-review/the-long-read -what-does-the-future-hold-for-syrias-people#full
WATCH The Syrian volunteers who rush to bombed buildings to save victims (11 minutes, News report) http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/syrian-volunteers-rush-bombed-buildings-save-victims/ You Think It’s Impossible to Leave Alive (3 min, campaign film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-WyVKxyJf5U In Syria, the sun is a hateful thing (4 min, campaign film) https://www.facebook.com/TheSyriaCampaign/videos/853110924780922/ This is how you defeat Isis (7 min, campaign film) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KovpPJULvgk
The Syria Campaign and the White Helmets
The Fine Print on Funding
The Syria Campaign is an independent advocacy group campaigning for a peaceful and democratic future for Syria. We are not the Syria Civil Defence (The White Helmets) but we are their biggest fans and think the whole world should know and support their heroic work and their calls to stop the bombs.
The White Helmets receive two types of funding. Firstly, they receives funds from some of the governments that support humanitarian relief in Syria including Japan, Denmark, Holland, the United Kingdom and the United States. These funds go to train volunteers and provide the equipment needed to save lives. Secondly, the White Helmets have received thousands of donations from ordinary people in more than 180 countries across the world. These donations are made online and go to provide treatment for wounded volunteers and the families of the martyrs. The Syria Campaign handles donations to the Hero Fund for the White Helmets. 100% of money raised goes directly to the White Helmets’ Hero Fund which is managed and administered by the leadership of the White Helmets. Donations are processed through “The Voices Project” which is the legal name of The Syria Campaign - registered in the UK. The Syria Campaign/Voices Project receives no money from this fundraising campaign and all money collected will go directly to the Hero Fund. You can donate on the Hero Fund page with Visa and Mastercard or through Paypal.
