Background

GCMHP established the Gaza Video Center in 1995 to produce documentaries on different psychosocial phenomena affecting the Palestinian people and to contribute to development and public education efforts.

In the year 2000, the Center expanded its work to incorporate more activities and was renamed the Documentation and Community Awareness Unit in recognition of its integral role in education and public outreach.

Objectives and Activities

Objective 1: To raise public awareness about different social, psychological, mental health, and human rights issues.
Activity a: Produce short films describing different mental health problems
Activity b: Produce educational films about stress and coping strategies
Objective 2: To reach a wider audience in the community
Activity a: Broadcast different video programs through governmental and independent television stations
Activity b: Show our productions in youth clubs, social welfare centers, schools, and summer camps in the Gaza Strip.
Objective 3: To give advice to people on how to react to certain situations and deal effectively with traumatic events.
Activity a: Produce and broadcast films concerning torture and its psychosocial effects
Activity b: Produce and broadcast films concerning domestic violence in Palestinian society
Objective 4: To reach less accessible groups in society, especially women and children
Activity a: Show films about children in summer camps and schools.
Activity b: Show films about women's issues and gender awareness in different women's centers in the Gaza Strip
Objective 5: To improve training methods used by mental health workers in Gaza and in other parts of Palestine and the Arab world
Activity a: Produce training films for mental health professionals to be used in their training courses
Objective 6: To improve the quality of productions by the Gaza Video Center staff. Activity a: Provide specialized training for GVC staff in producing educational films for Palestinian children

The center is planning in the year 2000 to produce the following:

• A 15 minute training program on clinical interviews to be used for specialists and trainees working in the field of mental health.
  
• A 15 minute documentary on the affect of drug addiction on the children of the addict.
  
• A 15 minute documentary about torture

Productions (1996 - 1999):

• WOMEN'S RIGHTS ARE HUMAN RIGHTS: a 28 minute film on domestic violence against women (1996)

• LITTLE HANDS: a 28-minute film on child labor, its causes, and effects (1996)

• NEAR TO DEATH: a 26-minute film on the difficulties of living in close proximity to the Israeli Settlements (1997)

• POLLUTION OF WATER: a 28-minute film on water pollution in the Gaza Strip (1996)

• YOUSIF: a 20-minute film on trauma treatment for children (1996)

• IDLE SHIPS: an 8-minute film on fishing difficulties off the coast of the Gaza Strip (1996)

• GCMHP: a 30-minute film on the GCMHP, describing its activities, departments, and future (1997)

• CHILDREN VOICES FROM PALESTINE: a 10-minute film on the hopes and wishes of Palestinian children (1997)

• ATIF: an 11-minute film about one child handicapped as a result of Israeli violence during the Intifada (1996)

• SALAM: a 20-minute film about the Palestinian perspective on peace (1996)

• ROOT: a 28-minute film recounting the Palestinian uprooting from BEER-AL-SABAA area in the year 1948, including the kind of lives they used to lead there, the war, the journey, and the hope of return (1998)

• HOPE & PAIN: a 15-minute film about Palestinian youths, the difficulties they face, their hopes for a good future, and the growing desire for immigration.(1998)

• SIDE RAOD LANE: a 15-minute film about handicapped people in the Gaza Strip, the way they live, and the obstacles they face in society (1998)

• FRAGMENTS OF MEMORY: a 15-minute film telling the story of the Palestinian uprooting in the year 1948 and the current situation of those living in the refugee camps (1999)

• CELLO: a 12-minute film about a Palestinian musician forced to leave his profession and work as a plumber in Israel to earn a livelihood for his family (1999)