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01/11/2017 07:30 AMUganda is a long way from this part of the world, but it’s where North Branford native Jennifer Azano (née Gargano) feels she belongs. On Monday, Jan. 16, using her own savings and funds slowly channeling into her GoFundMe page, Jennifer is returning make a difference at a Ugandan village school where the kids call her “Kirabo” (Chir-ah-bo), or “Gift from God.”
The North Branford High School Class of 2003 alumnae took her first steps toward changing the lives of kids attending the AVRS Secondary School of Mpigi, Uganda, after volunteering at the school just a few years ago. The school, generously founded and funded by American Richard Stanley, provides free education, room, and board to more than 200 Ugandan kids aged 11 to 17. The school, however, lacked art programs and the types of creative classes that Jennifer knows can give kids much needed growth and opportunity as well as hone life skills such as self-expression and confidence. She decided to start a creative arts program for the kids.
The talented filmmaker/director and artist joined a friend from New York City (NYC) in teaching an acting and film intensive at the school. In one short month, they took the students through acting classes and technical sessions covering every aspect of filmmaking, culminating with the kids producing their own original film.
Jennifer came back to her NYC home to edit the short film. That June, she brought the completed film, Son Rise, back to Uganda for a red carpet premiere at theater she rented in Kampala.
“Members of the Ugandan press were there, as well as local filmmakers, and we invited the other teachers and those students who have families to attend,” says Jennifer.
The girls arrived decked out in donated gowns, the boys in suits and ties gathered up by Jennifer’s friend and co-teacher. All of the students told her it was “the best day of their lives!” recalls Jennifer.
“They never imagined being able to make a real movie and see themselves on the big screen. They were glowing with pride,” she says. “Everyone in attendance was absolutely blown away by the incredible talent of these kids. What they were able to accomplish, especially with no prior experience, is absolutely amazing. The raw, natural talent they possess, and how they were able to create a very well-rounded and deeply moving story in such a short period time, is truly special.”
After the premiere, Jennifer returned to this country, but the impact of her time spent with the students was never far from her mind.
“In just one month’s time, they blossomed,” she says, “The shy students that just one month before were afraid to speak in front of the class opened up, gained confidence, began to build relationships with each other and express themselves. To witness these transformations was incredibly moving and inspiring.”
Due to the incredible impact the program had made on the school’s older students, the school’s founder invited Jennifer to return, with the goal of continuing her work and expanding it to reach students across the school.
“Well, I said ‘Yes’ in a heartbeat,” says Jennifer.
She’s dubbed her own philanthropic effort for the school “Filmanthropy” and created a Facebook page by that name for followers to learn more. Jennifer has established a GoFundMe page, www.gofundme.com/artclassuganda to help her follow her heart to Uganda. She plans to teach the program full-time at the school to the children who pass through its doors, now and in the future.
For the immediate future, Jennifer will ship out on Monday, Jan. 16 with five suitcases filled with notebooks and other classroom materials and also has shipped film and sound equipment to be used at the school over to Uganda.
“I spent my life savings and I’m hoping to keep it up with help from the GoFundMe page. I’m going to leave it up while I’m there and hope people keep supporting me,” she says.
To date, she’s raised $2,500 of her $15,000 goal. The value of dollar is exponential in Uganda, where spending about $1,000 to make a short film would roughly equal spending some $50,000 to make the same film in the USA, says Jennifer.
“I won’t have any income, which is a little scary, but I’m doing something good so hopefully it will all work out,” says Jennifer.
In fact, she hopes to make this her life’s work and to one day take up the mission and responsibilities of the man who founded the school.
“I’m going to stay indefinitely,” says Jennifer, who recently turned 31. “For now, I know I will be teaching there for a full year and then I’m going to see where we’re at. The gentleman who runs the school is almost 77, and he funds it from New York. It’s a 20-hour plane ride and the trip is taxing on him. He’s discussed with me taking over the school someday, and I would love to.”
Ideally, Jennifer hopes not only to continue his philanthropy, but to build on it.
“After my first trip, I thought, ‘I want to build an orphanage here,’” says Jennifer. “So my plan, down the road, is to build something for the children who are without homes. With an orphanage and a school, we can give them a good life and education.”
A beautiful young woman inside and out, Jennifer is thrilled to be doing something that she truly feels will make a difference.
“I think we should leave a mark on the world and make a difference,” says Jennifer. “The point of being here, in the grand scheme of things, is that at the end of the day you have made this world a better place. You have done for your fellow man. For me, I believe that starts with these kids. They’re growing up to be adults that change their communities, maybe their country, and the world.”
To make a donation click here or find Filmanthropy on Facebook.