As producers, we’re tasked with creating material that resonates with an audience. We have the added responsibility to create content with a positive affect. One must always strive to feed minds with something nourishing.

For the past year, I’ve been producing a documentary, One Day I Too Go Fly, with my producing partner and director Arthur Musah. ODITGF, follows 5 African students as they complete studies at the Massachusetts institute of Technology.  Arthur, a native of Ghana, began this journey alone. Like his subjects, he too was a student at MIT. He endured rigorous studies and drastic cultural differences as he transitioned into adulthood in the United States. One Day I Too Go Fly stemmed out of his desire to document this experience, as well as show a new view of Africa.

It’s clear why Arthur would be interested in telling this story, but you may wonder how/why an Ohio girl and Berkeley* grad connects? I’m interested in this story because it sheds a new light on Africa and will, hopefully, expand our appreciation for education. I’d like to encourage youth in developing countries, to seek higher education. Our students at MIT are evidence of the opportunity that exists – their journeys will serve as inspiration to youth who aspire to achieve. On the other hand,  I’d like to alert youth in developed countries to the challenges faced abroad. Regardless of nationality, socio-economic status, or field, it is my hope that One Day I Too Go Fly will drive home the importance of education and cultural sensitivity  for every viewer.

What’s unique about this film is that we plan on following the students for their entire undergraduate careers at MIT. While they’ll be presented with the hurdles associated with their burgeoning adulthood, they’ll ultimately be forced to decide how best to contribute back home. This summer, we followed one student home to Nigeria where he served as an instructor for XRL, an MIT student initiative to revolutionarize education in Nigeria through robotics. Already, at this early stage in his academic career, he’s found a way to use what he’s learned to make a positive change in the world.

One Day I Too Go Fly’s first year of production has been self-funded. Today marks the first day of our Kickstarter campaign. Now, while you may not be able to donate, perhaps you’re willing to support us in a different way, through word of mouth. If this story resonates with you, or someone you know, please share. We aren’t solely looking for money to fund the project, we also want to create a sense of community, urgency, and engagement around issues of education, intellectual capital, and cultural awareness.
 

 
For more information, you can visit our Kickstarter, Facebook Page, or Blog. Please check out the trailer below!

Thank you for reading!

* UC Berkeley has partnered up with the MasterCard Foundation for the MasterCard  Foundation Scholars Program, an initiative to make global education accessible to financially disadvantaged students in the developing world. Sub-Saharan Africa is a primary focus.

~ Thankful

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