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HISTORY
Icon_arrow_splash $22,500 raised previously
FUNDRAISING
76 have contributed so far
$25 of $2,500
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76 have contributed so far
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 Icon_sm_perk   $500 = TOH VIP Silver Member
 Icon_sm_perk   $1,000 = TOH VIP Gold Member
 Icon_sm_perk   $2,500 = TOH Associate Producer
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Number that have:
Viewed  11,999
Rated  23
Endorsed  33  (view)
Contributed  1  (view)
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InfoMediaTeamFunding 
Tapestries of Hope
Two activists from two corners of the world take on a government and an urban myth to protect young girls from rape and abuse.
 Woodside , California
United States
RATINGS (23)
Idea
4.64.64.64.64.6
Team
4.54.54.54.54.5
Chance of Success
4.54.54.54.54.5
Tags:  zimbabwe  education  aids  humanitarianism  bettymakoni  girlchildnetwork  rape  africa  abuse  girl  documentary  travel  michealene  stanford  mugabe  humanrights  poverty 
Synopsis: 

TAPESTRIES OF HOPE” is the story of Filmmaker and child rights advocate, Michealene Cristini Risley, traveling to Zimbabwe to document Betty Makoni and the Girl Child Network (GCN), and to expose an issue that continues to be ignored: the rape and sexual abuse of thousands of young girls in Zimbabwe.

The cause of these rapes is shocking: men with HIV/AIDS are counseled by local traditional healers that if they have sex with a virgin, their blood will be purified and they will be cured of the disease. The rape and abuse is out of control with little to no legal or societal consequence. The youngest case reported was that of a day-old.

Both victims of child abuse, Michealene Cristini Risley and Betty Makoni unite from two corners of the world to give the girls of Zimbabwe a voice and fight for the safety and rights of the women of this unstable and poverty stricken country.

Betty Makoni, native of Zimbabwe, rape survivor, and renowned child rights activist, has been a vital source of hope and support for these girls. Through her non-profit, Girl Child Network (GCN), she and her staff provide food, shelter, and a chance for girls to further their education and interests. It is groups like hers that give hope and a continued future to these girls.

During the filming of this documentary, the filmmaker and her crew were interrogated, arrested, and deported from Zimbabwe. The crew will not be silenced and neither will the girls of Zimbabwe.

What makes Tapestries of Hope different:  This documentary is about the rape and abuse of children. Our hope is to create enough global outrage to stop these crimes. "Tapestries of Hope" is not just a movie, but a movement.
InfoMediaTeamFunding 
PITCH CLIP
  (not yet added)
VIDEOS
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(1 of 2)
Tapestries of Hope Trailer

"Tapestries of Hope" is a feature-length documentary that exposes the myth behind the abuse of young girls in Zimbabwe and brings awareness to the efforts of the Girl Child Network and their fearless founder Betty Makoni. This is a 2:58 min teaser trailer of the documentary, directed by award-winning filmmaker Michealene Cristini Risley, produced by Anand Chandrasekaran and Ray Arthur Wang, and currently in post-production.
  Video not loading? Switch to Normal Quality
IMAGES
Icon_arrow_right
(1 of 2)
Chitsotso Empowerment Village Girls

Girls of the GCN Empowerment Village in Rusape, Zimbabwe
Click to View Full Size
LINKS
Tapestries of Hope Blog Blogs from the crew! Recently won "media blog of the year" from Society for New Communications Research
Tapestries of Hope Website (this site is currently being updated- check back soon!)
FILES
  (none yet added)
InfoMediaTeamFunding 
FUNDING
Goal
$2,500
How will these funds be used?
Funds will be used for editing and post-production expenses.
What is the name of the legal entity behind this project, if any?
Fresh Water Spigot
VIP PERKS
$5 TOH Friend Every bit makes a difference!
$10 TOH Supporter THANK YOU!
$25 TOH Fan Thank you for making a contribution!
$50 TOH Member Be the first to know the latest and greatest on this important cause!
$100 TOH VIP Member Be the first to know the latest and greatest on this important cause and receive a copy of the film on DVD.
$250 TOH VIP Bronze Member Be the first to know the latest and greatest on this important cause, receive a copy of the film on DVD and a pair of Future Earrings.
$500 TOH VIP Silver Member Be the first to know the latest and greatest on this important cause, receive a copy of the film on DVD and the Future Pendant Necklace.
$1,000 TOH VIP Gold Member Be the first to know the latest and greatest on this important cause, receive a copy of the film on DVD, a pair of Future Earrings and the Future Pendant Necklace.
$2,500 TOH Associate Producer Be the first to know the latest and greatest on this important cause, receive 10 copies of the film on DVD, a pair of Future Earrings, the Future Pendant Necklace, credit on the film, and invited to attend the festival premiere.
 
HISTORY
July 01, 2008 Fundraising Completed
($2,500 of $2,500)
Funds use: Funds will be used for editing and post-production expenses.
May 01, 2008 Fundraising Completed
($10,000 of $10,000)
Funds use: Funds will be used for editing and post-production expenses.
March 17, 2008 Fundraising Completed
($10,000 of $10,000)
Funds use: Funds will be used for the film's website and initial phase of editing.
March 07, 2008 Fundraising Canceled
($180 of $10,000)
Funds use: Funds will be used for the film's website and initial phase of editing.
InfoMediaTeamFunding 
TEAM MEMBERS
Michealene
  [imdb]
Administrator
Director and Producer
rawpp
  [imdb]
Team Member
Producer
Lauren
  [imdb]
Team Member
Production Assistant and Cinematographer
anandc
Team Member
Producer
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Michealene (Fri Jun 05 '09)  

Watch Betty Makoni on CNNHeroes:http://www.cnn.com/SPECIALS/cnn.heroes/index.html
Help us to get the word out. Thanks!

Michealene (Thu May 07 '09)  

Please welcome our new Executive Director for Freshwater Haven. Michelle Titus!!

Michealene (Sun May 03 '09)  

A new blog on our work: http://www.facebook.com/ext/share.php?sid=78514…

Thanks, Jen!

Michealene (Sun May 03 '09)  

We pre-screened “Tapestries of Hope” with Betty Makoni: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid…
Check it out. The turn out and response was phenomenal!

Michealene (Sun May 03 '09)  

We pre-screened “Tapestries of Hope” with Betty Makoni: http://www.facebook.com/home.php#/album.php?aid…
Check it out. The turn out and response was phenomenal!

CommentsEndorsementsContributions 
 Keep Private
randaadechoubou (Fri Jun 05 '09)
Came across this fabulous project on Cnn.com. Great project!
Reply from Michealene (Fri Jun 05 '09)
THANK YOU! Please pass the word.
MikeAmbs (Tue Dec 16 '08)
Keep up the great work :)
AlexMehr (Fri Nov 21 '08)
Great idea.
AlexMehr (Fri Nov 21 '08)
Great idea.
Fabio (Thu Nov 06 '08)
How is your project going? You are doing a great thing. It's people like you that can change the world.
DarkForestFilms (Sun Jul 13 '08)
how did you get so much funding?
Reply from Michealene (Fri Jul 18 '08)
Just kept asking and moving forward. Good luck!
Jtad88 (Sat Jun 07 '08)
You are an inspiration to all filmmakers producing documentaries like this that needs to be told! Thank you!
Reply from Michealene (Mon Jun 09 '08)
Thank you very very much! comments like this help me keep going...it is a long haul! Michealene
tmpixley (Thu Jan 31 '08)
I was wondering why you don't have any low level donations? I'm a starving artist and I would love to support you, but $50 is high for me...
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