“Pretending Reality” a film developed by La Cour Des Arts De La Dominique Inc. to spark conversation to show the pain that can be caused when children are trying to find out who their fathers are, will be launched at the Dominica Public Service Union Building on Saturday 11th August 2018
The film highlights the yearning of a young boy to find out his father’s identity which led to unforeseen circumstances.
The production was done under the Juvenile Justice Reform Project Phase 1 through the then Ministry of Social Services. The film was written by Magistrate Gloria Septra Augustus, and directed by Curtis Clarendon with Alwin Bully as Consultant.
“What we have done is under the Juvenile Justice Reform Project (JJRP) phase 1 where we were supposed to do certain things to reach out to the public, we had teamed up under the project and sometime in April of 2016 we had a major outreach program where we had a panel discussion on the root causes of violence,” Augustus told Dominica News Online (DNO) during an interview on Thursday.
She continued, “This [is the] reason why we saw this as important because in my role as a Magistrate in the court dealing with family matters and young people, I have seen the pain and anguish that has been caused by children who do not know who their fathers are or even though they know who their fathers are, whose fathers are not present in their lives and what it has caused them.”
Augustus went out to say that the group showed a film that was made in Grenada showing the effects of parents leaving their children and going out to try to get work while the children are cared for by other persons.
According to her, the projects were done to bring out those messages.
She said the group was also involved in a parenting programme by radio in 2016.
The lead actor is Asaiah Yankey as Madavan. Yankey left Dominica following Hurricane Maria in September 2017 to pursue studies in Jamaica. He is now on holiday in Dominica, so, the group is using that opportunity to launch the film.
Augustus encourages the public to come to view the film and although entrance is free, she said given that the group focuses on children, they plan to assist a young child who has certain educational needs, so a small contribution will be appreciated.
She pointed out that following the film a discussion will be held in terms of the whole issue of fatherhood.
Augustus noted that this is one of the ways in which the talent of youth can be highlighted and to sort of give a voice to youth and help youth realize their full potential.
The launch of the film is expected to begin from 8:00 PM.
Actually it was not a teacher, but a recommended male guest speaker from a group supposedly there to help. The teaching staff were as shocked as I was.
Very poinant. What amazes me is that these men and women who grew up without both parents in the home repeat the cycle having multiple children with no father in the home.
My parents were not married and although my grandmother did a fantastic job raising me with all the love anyone could ask for, I swore from a very young age I was not going to have children out of wedlock. I am happy to have accomplished that.
I know some guys who gave 3 and 4 children all with different women. I find the practice very distasteful and irresponsible.
Sometimes relationships don’t work out, but before you get someone pregnant think of the consequences and the effect on children that may be borne of that act
I trust that the film will, with sensitivity, highlight the pain of many children.
I say “with sensitivity” because in the recent passed I have witnessed attempts to grapple with this dilemma cause even more anguish and pain.
At a primary school initiative the speaker questioned the children at a gathered assembly as follows:
Put your hand up if you don’t know who your father is. (A number of children sheepishly responded.) Now put your hand up if you know who your father is but he is not living with you. (More children sheepishly responded.) Finally, put your hand up if your father is seldom home when you return from school. (Most children responded, and with good reason as the father may have been working.)
The above insensitive attempt to highlight a problem, from a Dominican group supposedly there to help, only results in more pain.
I might add that children separated from their father by a divorce ruling in favour of the mother, also suffer.
Roger Burnett, you are absolutely correct in your statement about sensitivity. I felt that the teacher you wrote about should have refrained from making public children’s pain. It is best for a teacher to remain within her profession and not act as a psychologist or licensed social worker. These sorry of inappropriate teaching tactic causes more damage than good.