WATCH ABOVE: Filming Ourselves is a free digital storytelling program designed specifically for teens whose lives have been affected by cancer. The six-month program allows teens to create short films about their personal experiences with cancer.
TORONTO – Filming Ourselves is a digital storytelling experience designed specifically for teens whose lives have been touched by cancer.
The free six-month workshop takes place at Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto, which provides a community of social and emotional support for anyone affected by cancer.
“Gilda’s Club, to me, is the type of organization that I take great pride in being part of,” said Pat Brown, the executive director of Gilda’s Club Greater Toronto.
The unique program gives teens an opportunity to tell their personal stories through a variety of mediums, providing them with a way to express their thoughts and feelings during a devastating time.
READ MORE: Making a Difference: Gilda’s Club of Toronto
“I always think that, you know, cancer only happens to the other guy. Except to everyone else, I am the other guy,” said Thomas Enns, a participant of Filming Ourselves. “So now that my dad is diagnosed, it’s like, it’s not distant. It can happen to anyone.”
Raymund Ong, who volunteers with Filming Ourselves, believes that the program helps give teens their voices back.
“I can’t speak for them, but I can speak for what I see. And I see confident young people that are able to tell their story on their terms,” said Ong.
Wherever they are on their cancer journey, the program provides teens with a safe space to express themselves.
“These young people have taught me so much – to be very accepting, to be very open – and before I even realized it, I guess they’ve helped me heal with my cancer experience as well,” said Ong.
“I used to be very secluded after my father’s diagnosis,” said Enns. “My grades went down for a bit and I disconnected with quite a few friends. Filming Ourselves helped me open up and get some confidence.”
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