In a multi-stakeholder momentum where any contribution is useful, citizens, local governments civil society and the private sector gather to support the production of a 52' documentary film with a strong social utility about ghost children donating 5% of the funds raised to UNICEF to contribute to children immediate needs on the ground.

In 45 days, we reached 144% of our first target by bringing together 106 individuals and organizations, making sure the project will become reality while financing 7 UNICEF Happy Boxes. Today the film is in the final stages of editing, and the fight goes on www.ghostchildren.org!

WHAT?

Praised for its impact and a particularly replicable character, the birth registration partnership led by the cities of Roeselare (Belgium) and Dogbo (Benin) has been elected last year "best decentralised cooperation project" by a jury of specialists from the European Union and the United Nations (PLATFORMAwards initiative).

The cooperation partnership that became an example for the world offers a great story perfectly translated into video. Launching that #GhostChildrenFight campaign, it is interesting to introduce a collective conversation on the substantive issues mentioned in the film. How to eradicate the ghost children problem? What are the reasons for an endemic non-registration of births? What are the best tools to deal with the phenomenon and how to articulate them? Should the civil state matters be only dealt by central governments ?

The documentary film will be a unique communication tool to raise awareness of the wider audience about human rights, the right to identity, international solidarity, decentralized cooperation and the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

"Ensuring legal identity for all, including birth registration" is one of the 17 SDGs defined by the United Nations, for which local and regional authorities have an important role to play.

FILM SYNOPSIS

Today 230 million children don't have a birth certificate worldwide. Without a legal existence and associated rights, these "ghost children" are excluded from society and can easily become the prey of the worst abuses. To face this situation, the mayor of Dogbo in Benin has signed a birth registration cooperation agreement with his Belgian counterpart in Roeselare. Strong actions are being taken on equipment, recruitment, training and awareness. On a mission to Dogbo, the Belgian delegation must face cultural differences and local traditions to offer the project a full success.

BUDGET & FINANCIAL PLAN

WHY?

PROJECT GENESIS

September 2018. Social networks relay a call for proposals for a video production project launched by the Council of European Municipalities and Regions (CEMR), whose PLATFORMAwards initiative aims to reward excellence in action cities and regions.

Among 42 decentralized cooperation projects run by 75 local governments from 30 countries, a jury of officials and experts from the European Union and the United Nations unanimously awarded the first prize to the cities of Roeselare (Belgium) of Dogbo (Benin ) for their joint birth registration program.

With almost 40% of births unregistered, Benin is one of the most affected countries in the world by the "ghost children" issue, which affects nearly 230 million children worldwide. Deprived of a birth certificate, these children have no legal existence and can not claim any right. Excluded from society, they can even become the target of the worst abuses: school drop-out, child labor, forced marriage, prostitution, child soldiers ...

To eradicate the ghost children in Dogbo, the mayor of this 100,000 inhabitants Beninese city has forged with his Belgian counterpart of Roeselare a cooperation partnership which is so much effective that its success starts to reason throughout Africa.

WHO?

Specialized in communication tools for local governments international cooperation projects, Backpack Productions won the EU call for projects and immediately reinforced the envisaged measure to produce a 52' documentary film.

PRESENTATION OF THE STRUCTURE LEADING THE PROJECT

Founded in 2009, Backpack Productions is an independent audiovisual production company based in Bordeaux, France, specialized in reportages and documentaries highlighting contrasts of a connected world.

From conception to broadcasting, Backpack offers a turnkey solution by coordinating the know-how of European talents and targeted specialists: directors, journalists, production managers, chief operators, cameramen, graphic designers, sound engineers, mixers , musicians, translators and other audiovisual technicians.

In 10 years, Backpack acquired a unique know-how to offer each production a global and coherent approach, gathering an original quality writing, effective narrative structures, beautiful images and an irreproachable post-production. Backpack knows how to highlight strong stories generating authenticity, emotion and enthusiasm.

With the CNC (French National Cinema Center) support or in co-production with France Télévisions, Backpack films have been acclaimed by critics and rewarded with prestigious awards at international films festivals.

In an approach of corporate social responsibility and a strong sensitivity to the international solidarity and local development challenges, Backpack recently developed an expertise on communication projects related to the local authorities international cooperation projects:

In 2014 and 2015, Backpack produced videos for the Local Governments International Action Forum for the benefit of targeted local authorities associations (France, Morocco, Ivory Coast, Senegal).
In 2016 and 2017, Backpack produced for the French Ministry for Foreign Affairs (DAECT) and Cités Unies France a successful multichannel communication campaign.
In 2018, Backpack produced for the European Union (CEMR / PLATFORMA) a short report and derived videos, as well as a communication campaign promoting the best decentralized cooperation project.
In 2019, Backpack strengthens the European arrangement to promote decentralized cooperation and the Sustainable Development Goals by leading the "Ghost Children Fight" documentary production, including that participative #GhostChildrenFight campaign.

HOW?

Backpack was pleased to quickly get the support of the European Union through the CEMR and UNICEF, through the availability of the video rushes and a key interview of an expert on the ground. We also gathered a tailor-made team with an experienced director who already shot several documentaries with a cameraman who knows Africa as well. Versatile and sensitive to cooperation issues, the editor already knows the rushes since he successfully mounted the short video report, whose trailer has been viewed more than 360,000 views on social networks.

The film is now targeting to reach the wider audience with film festivals participations on 5 continents with an associated international TV distribution. A rigorous project management and a constant concern for quality will allow the best technical team to make the most of adapted means according to the campaign collected final amount.

For that and to build the best film, we now hope that many citizens, local governments, associations and institutions will join the #GhostChildrenFight campaign launched as part of the European Days of Local Solidarity.

The Ghost Children Fight

Our commitments