Plan films shortlisted in World Bank contest

Children on the shores of East Holdibari, Bangladesh

4 November 2008: Two Plan documentaries from Bangladesh and Indonesia have been shortlisted in a climate change film contest run by the World Bank.

'Flood Children of Holdibari' follows a group of Bangladeshi children’s efforts to protect their community from flooding. The film secured its position on the Social Dimensions of Climate Change micro-documentary shortlist after receiving more than 1,000 votes in an online public vote.

Watch the video on Plan’s YouTube channel (4.33 mins)

Protecting Indonesia

Plan Indonesia's 'Our Small Hands Against Climate Change', which has been shortlisted for the Young Voices of Climate Change award, highlights some of the ways in which children and young people are working to safeguard their environment.

Watch the video (5.06 mins)

The films now join 21 other entries and will be presented to a panel of judges who have distinct areas of expertise, including media, international development, the environment and human rights.

In focus: Children take action

‘Flood Children of Holdibari’ introduces Shapla - a young girl living on the Bangladeshi island of East Holdibari, who has been forced to move house 10 times in 4 years because of floods that have become more extreme and less predictable with climate change.

Together with other children on the island, she helped set up the Plan-supported Holdibari children’s group, which has developed an action plan to protect their flood-prone community.

Hazard map

From drawing up a ‘hazard map’ to highlight risk areas, to providing tips on food storage and ways to deter snakes from entering flooded homes, the children’s group has reached out to the whole community.

“We hope that the work of the group will keep children and their families safe,” says Shapla.

The film contest winners will be announced in November 2008.

Learn more about the World Bank’s film contest