Project Information
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Show your support for Father Gabriel and the David Lynch Foundation.
FILM CREDITS
Producer/DirectorStuart Tanner
Producer
Joanna Plafsky, Supporter of the David Lynch Foundation
Assistant Producers
Cullen Thomas, DLF.TV
Amine Kouider, DLF.TV
The David Lynch Foundation
The David Lynch Foundation has currently provided over 120,000 scholarships around the world including tens of thousands in Latin America. The proceeds from this premiere will go towards the David Lynch Foundation programs in Latin America, including Father Mejia's Foundation, providing meditation instruction to at-risk populations. The program is offered on a voluntary basis, at no cost to the school or organization. Visit davidlynchfoundation.org for more information on programs and initiatives.
THE PROJECT
“The street children in Colombia are called ‘the disposable ones’ and they live and sometimes die on the streets. These children are unloved, unwanted, and endure abuse on many levels. Colombians are a kind and generous people but crime related to cocaine trafficking has made cities such as Medellin among the most violent in the world. Surviving on the streets is a harsh business. Children as young as six fall into prostitution and many escape the torments of their existence by sniffing glue.” — Stuart Tanner, Director
SUPPORT AT-RISK YOUTH
IT DOESN'T HAVE TO BE THIS WAY.
As Stuart reveals in his deeply moving new film, there is a Catholic priest in Colombia, Father Gabriel Mejia, who has worked quietly to provide street children relief from their struggle for survival and support to create a better life for themselves.
Starting in Medellin in the mid-1980’s, Father Gabriel opened the first Center de Hogares Claret: a place where children could come for a good meal and a safe place to sleep. In the late 1980’s, he traveled to the United States where he learned Transcendental Meditation. He knew immediately that he had found the answer to the overwhelming stress the children suffered from living on the streets. As the power of the drug cartels waned, the number of Father Gabriel’s orphan shelters increased. Now, in 2010, there are 47 shelters under Father Gabriel’s direction, which are spread across all of Colombia. His center of operations in Medellin is the former home of Pablo Escobar, the now deceased drug lord.
“In the rough part of Medillin there is an orphan center where children as young as six years old can come to seek solace,” Stuart recalls. “At the center the children can shower and get a good meal. The children are free to come and go as they wish. There is no pressure on them to stay; it is an open house. Father Gabriel has learned through his work with the street children that the desire to move away from their life on the streets must come from within the children themselves. Many of the children are addicted to sniffing glue or gasoline so the process of becoming free of this dependency is a difficult and gradual one. As part of their rehabilitation the children learn to meditate. This is combined with gentle guidance from Father Gabriel and other members of the Foundation.”
As Stuart’s film documents, over time an extraordinary transformation in the lives of the children takes place. They are freed from the torments they endured living on the streets, recover from their drug addictions and begin to gain an education. “The Foundation established by Father Gabriel embodies the wisdom, patience and knowledge that is required to rescue the ‘disposable’ children, restore their rights, their dignity and offer them a much brighter future,” Stuart says.
Discussion
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Credits And Production Photos
About the Director, Stuart Tanner
Stuart Tanner is a highly experienced television producer/director of prime-time programs across a range of genres and subject areas. Over the last 30 years he has worked for major UK broadcasters and also international broadcasters. He has won awards for his films for the BBC and Channel Four. His main output has been in the area of current affairs and factual program making. As a documentarian he has acquired a range of key skills that include working as a broadcast journalist and filmmaker on high profile documentary series for the BBC. Some of his accomplishments to date are: Profits of Doom, an investigation into the policies of the World Bank and IMF in developing nations, Children of Vengeance, a highly acclaimed film that featured unique access to the Palestinian militias and their personal stories as they struggled with the harsh realities of the conflict between Israel and Palestine and The Enemy Within, an investigation into religious persecution in China. Stuart's documentary The Mahogany Trail highlighted the plight of Amazonian Indians whose reserves are invaded by the logging industry for mahogany wood used for export to foreign markets. As a result of making the documentary he wrote a book Plunder for Profit.
Stuart is now working as Co-Director of Maharishi University of Management Communications and Media department and as Executive Producer-Director for David Lynch Foundation Television (DLF.TV).
About the Producer, Joanna Plafsky
Joanna Plafsky is an established International Producer and Distributor, who began her career in 1980 at the height of the home entertainment expansion. She was Founder and President of Radiance Films, and then established Nu Image (now Millennium Films), which produced such films such as 16 Blocks with Bruce Willis, and 88 MINUTES, with Al Pacino and is now Executive Producing FASCINATION, with Jacqueline Bisset, and RIMPOCHET, a new documentary by filmmaker Jennifer Fox (Director of the Sundance Film Festival favorite FLYING). RIMPOCHET will be premiering at the 2010 Venice Film Festival.
Joanna is a supporter of the David Lynch Foundation programs and a pioneer in producing the DLF.TV documentary series.
The David Lynch Foundation
The David Lynch Foundation has currently provided over 120,000 scholarships around the world including tens of thousands in Latin America. The proceeds from this premiere will go towards the David Lynch Foundation programs in Latin America, including Father Mejia's Foundation, providing meditation instruction to at-risk populations. The program is offered on a voluntary basis, at no cost to the school or organization. Visit davidlynchfoundation.org for more information on programs and initiatives.
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Screening Photos
World Premiere - April 8th, Fairfield Iowa
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I am also quite interesting in a copy of this documentary to screen in our city. I am so glad that there is still understanding and love.
How can we see the whole documentary? Also would love to know volunteer information
[...] The extended 7-minute trailer can be viewed at DLF.TV. [...]
[...] program TM. Za jeho charitativní činnnost mu byl udělen čestný doktorát na univerzitě MUM. Dokument televize nadace DLF ukazuje velmi názorným způsobem účinnou proměnu dětí s použitím [...]
[...] mi vhled“. Reverend Gabriel Mejia z Kolumbie praktikuje program TM a uvádí ho i svým svěřencům – opuštěným dětem v útulcích, pro které znamená [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by . said: [...]
How can I see the documentary if I missed it in fairfield. I would really like to be able to buy some copies. Please anyone let me know!
thanks!
This documentary is fabulous! Thank you David Lynch for supporting Father Mejia’s efforts to being love and self-esteem to thousands of Columbian children. Also, thank you David Lynch for giving TM to millions of children throughout the world. This gift of bliss will change the world.
Amazing story made my day…glad to know love is spreading to the most needed parts of the world!
It was a real thing to watch. though in Kashmir it is not so bad, but at Allahabad, Delhi and Mumbia it is similar. at times it is worst. The solution provided in the film is apt, required and necessary - to fall back of T.M. Since my introduction to T.M. in 2/2008 I am doing it regularly. It is great, blissfull and personal yet universal.
Just great.
Such amazing resilience from ‘our children’ in Medillin. when we wake up and realise that we are all mothers and fathers to all children- then things change. I am inspired by this documentary and the work the Padre is doing.
It is affecting to see children learn to move calmly within themselves and find a place to observe their own state and come to acceptance in that place.
All my respect and admiration to the Padre for his efforts.
David Lynch, meet The Hunger Project, Hunger Project, meet David Lynch…
http://www.thp.org/what_we_do/program_overview/intro_video
[...] film a eu lieu le 8 avril dernier à Fairfield, Iowa aux Etats-Unis. Ne manquez pas de visionner la bande annonce (durée 06:43) [...]
hi, i realy want to know about this association or organization thanks
I suggest petitioning the companies making glue to put in an additive that will prevent it from being used this way. Make you nauseous or something. This is a know technology.
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Heather. Heather said: P.S. Saving the Disposable Ones is a documentary about street children from Colombia, not like, recycling or something! http://is.gd/bkQri [...]
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Heather. Heather said: P.S. Saving the Disposable Ones is a documentary about street children from Colombia, not like, recycling or something! http://is.gd/bkQri [...]
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by 7Mountaineer: RT @DAVID_LYNCH: Watch Father Mejia change the lives of Colombian street children: “Saving the Disposable Ones” http://bit.ly/dlfdoc...
I am from colombia, barranquilla to be more precise, i see this all the time, is part of the landscape, is great to see that people from other parts of the world, are concern and put their eyes on our country. thank you a lot.
I am also putting this on my facebook page at sophiah koikas.
Very disturbing to see what drugs do to people and children and glad to see they have help.
[...] Watch the extended trailer now Possibly related posts: (automatically generated)Show Your Support – Download a Poster!PDF DOWNLOAD: FULL SIZE US LETTER SINGLE POSTER NOW AVAILABLE [...]
Dear Friends!I know allredy for DLF TV,but today,I have seen for first time this video about Columbian children.Sorow and bliss.It is a great what you are doing!!!Damir,Croatia(Zagreb)Jai Guru Dev!!!
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by MeditationAsheville , Tom Ball. Tom Ball said: Launched today on http://DLF.TV > HELPING ABANDONED CHILDREN with KINDNESS and MEDITATION http://dlf.tv/2010/saving-the-disposables-ones [...]
[...] DLF.TV Documentary: Saving the Disposable Ones By Ken Chawkin Watch the extended trailer now [...]
[...] Although, the film is not available to see outside of the screenings, DLF.TV is showcasing a 7-minute extended trailer which has had a very similar response. You can watch the trailer and be a part of the conversation here. [...]
Social comments and analytics for this post…
This post was mentioned on Twitter by HeatherHartnett: RT @DLFTV: Watch Father Mejia change the lives of Colombian street children - @DLFTV Presents “Saving the Disposable Ones” http://bit.ly/dlfdoc...
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by HeatherHartnett, Carla Brown. Carla Brown said: RT @DLFTV: Watch Father Mejia change the lives of Colombian street children - @DLFTV Presents "Saving the Disposable Ones" http://bit.ly/dlfdoc [...]