Ciné Clair
Donation protected
Project Overview:
In the North of Haiti, outside of Cap-Haitian, Wilnick Paul and his community have made the first steps toward creating a movie theater — a place for the people of Monben Latay to gather and let some of the daily worries slip away. The vision of this space is two-fold: one, to provide shared entertainment, and two, to have a space that acts as a community center, whether it be for arts, social gatherings, or project organizing.
I met Wilnick Paul while doing research in Haiti for UC Berkeley’s geography department, studying the relationship between NGOs and local state infrastructure. Through my research I witnessed the divide that often occurs between local community engagement and foreign NGO visions for the possibilities of change, which are often narrowly focused on basic needs and meeting numbers. Wilnick and I talked at length about his frustration at being dependent on foreign projects and programs, and specifically his desire to build something from the ground up for the people in his community. The idea for Ciné Clair was born!
Since its conception, the initial idea is quickly becoming tangible. With full support from the people of Monben Latay, including a generous land donation for the site itself, Wilnick and his friends have devoted themselves and their personal resources to beginning the construction of Ciné Clair. Personal resources can only go so far, however, and so we are reaching out to you all now to help them achieve this dream. Thank you for all your support, and of course, next time you visit Monben Latay, a free showing of your favorite film will be at your disposal!
Budget:
Our goal for the construction of Ciné Clair is $10,000! The money will be allocated as follows:
Building materials:
• Iron...................................$ 1,080
• Cement..............................$ 1,500
• Wood.................................$ 600
• Gravel................................$ 550
• Sand..................................$ 715
• Tin....................................$ 1,000
Benches...................................$ 600
Power/electricity......................$ 2,500
Satellite...................................$ 400
Labor costs................................$ 700
Miscellaneous/unforeseen costs.......$ 350
Items already obtained:
• Projector
• Mixer
• Speaker (1)
• Power back-up
TOTAL.......................................$10,000
Long-term goals:
Our goal is to make Ciné Clair accessible, sustainable, and rooted in a philosophy of community building. Once the construction is complete, we will begin to show movies and stream from satellite (with the immediate goal of screening the World Cup!) on evenings and weekends. Revenue will come from ticket prices for showings and rental of the space to local groups for periodic events and meetings. Over 150 people attended the debut outdoor free movie screening of Ciné Clair, and so we are confident that the theater’s popularity will ensure sufficient ticket sales. These earnings will support maintenance of the theater and salaries for Ciné Clair’s workers. Extra revenue will be saved and reinvested in the theater to continue improving the facility over time.
Eventually, our goal is to paint the building, update the sound system, and open a bar so that people can enjoy refreshments while at the theater. We believe this can happen without outside funding and resources once Ciné Clair is constructed and capable of generating its own revenue. In addition to being a space for entertainment and gathering, therefore, Ciné Clair will also boost economic activity in Monben Latay in a sustainable manner, providing employment opportunity and attracting more people to the area.
All this will be possible thanks to your generous support in our final push to create Ciné Clair!
In the North of Haiti, outside of Cap-Haitian, Wilnick Paul and his community have made the first steps toward creating a movie theater — a place for the people of Monben Latay to gather and let some of the daily worries slip away. The vision of this space is two-fold: one, to provide shared entertainment, and two, to have a space that acts as a community center, whether it be for arts, social gatherings, or project organizing.
I met Wilnick Paul while doing research in Haiti for UC Berkeley’s geography department, studying the relationship between NGOs and local state infrastructure. Through my research I witnessed the divide that often occurs between local community engagement and foreign NGO visions for the possibilities of change, which are often narrowly focused on basic needs and meeting numbers. Wilnick and I talked at length about his frustration at being dependent on foreign projects and programs, and specifically his desire to build something from the ground up for the people in his community. The idea for Ciné Clair was born!
Since its conception, the initial idea is quickly becoming tangible. With full support from the people of Monben Latay, including a generous land donation for the site itself, Wilnick and his friends have devoted themselves and their personal resources to beginning the construction of Ciné Clair. Personal resources can only go so far, however, and so we are reaching out to you all now to help them achieve this dream. Thank you for all your support, and of course, next time you visit Monben Latay, a free showing of your favorite film will be at your disposal!
Budget:
Our goal for the construction of Ciné Clair is $10,000! The money will be allocated as follows:
Building materials:
• Iron...................................$ 1,080
• Cement..............................$ 1,500
• Wood.................................$ 600
• Gravel................................$ 550
• Sand..................................$ 715
• Tin....................................$ 1,000
Benches...................................$ 600
Power/electricity......................$ 2,500
Satellite...................................$ 400
Labor costs................................$ 700
Miscellaneous/unforeseen costs.......$ 350
Items already obtained:
• Projector
• Mixer
• Speaker (1)
• Power back-up
TOTAL.......................................$10,000
Long-term goals:
Our goal is to make Ciné Clair accessible, sustainable, and rooted in a philosophy of community building. Once the construction is complete, we will begin to show movies and stream from satellite (with the immediate goal of screening the World Cup!) on evenings and weekends. Revenue will come from ticket prices for showings and rental of the space to local groups for periodic events and meetings. Over 150 people attended the debut outdoor free movie screening of Ciné Clair, and so we are confident that the theater’s popularity will ensure sufficient ticket sales. These earnings will support maintenance of the theater and salaries for Ciné Clair’s workers. Extra revenue will be saved and reinvested in the theater to continue improving the facility over time.
Eventually, our goal is to paint the building, update the sound system, and open a bar so that people can enjoy refreshments while at the theater. We believe this can happen without outside funding and resources once Ciné Clair is constructed and capable of generating its own revenue. In addition to being a space for entertainment and gathering, therefore, Ciné Clair will also boost economic activity in Monben Latay in a sustainable manner, providing employment opportunity and attracting more people to the area.
All this will be possible thanks to your generous support in our final push to create Ciné Clair!
Organizer
Julia Uyttewaal
Organizer
Berkeley, CA
