Scenarios USA believes that by listening to the ideas, opinions and experiences of youth we can all have an impact on promoting healthy relationships and lowering the rate of HIV, STIs and teen pregnancy.

Description:
Scenarios USA is a non-profit organization that uses writing and filmmaking to foster youth leadership, advocacy and self-expression in teens. The winning writers are partnered with some of Hollywood’s finest filmmakers to transform their stories into award-winning short films. 15 million people a year watch the Scenarios USA films at film festivals, on TV and the Internet, and in high schools nationwide.

History:
The history of the Scenarios project is a story of global partnership. Scenarios USA replicates and builds on the successes of Scenarios from the Sahel a program developed by a coalition of West African organizations. Scenarios from the Sahel was inspired by and expands on a project created by a French organization working in AIDS prevention.

In 1993, in an effort to improve their understanding of what the youth knew about HIV/AIDS and where the system had failed them, a French AIDS prevention organization sponsored a film contest for young people, called 3000 Scenarios Against a Virus. Prominent filmmakers, actors and production companies joined forces and produced 30 films, which reached a wide audience in France.

In 1997, news of the success of 3000 Scenarios Against A Virus inspired a team of AIDS activists based in Senegal to initiate a similar project in West Africa. Working in partnership with local organizations in Senegal, Mali and Burkina Faso, the team organized a competition for young people to write stories about HIV/AIDS - this project became Scenarios from the Sahel. In its first year, thousands of young people participated in the contest. The submissions came equally from urban and rural areas, including the bush, and were written by individuals and teams of both genders. In February 1998, the African Scenarios aired during television coverage of the World Cup and likely reached one hundred million Africans.

Contact person: Nicole Israel, (718) 230-5125, (email)
Office fax number: (718) 230-4381

Address:

80 Hanson Place Suite 305 Brooklyn, NY 11217 (See a map)

Directions:

Our office is located 2 blocks from the Atlantic Avenue subway stop   Nearest Metro/Subway Stop: C Lafayette / G Fulton / NRQBD Atlantic-Pacific,   Walk distance (in minutes): 5