New Level 1 Students

I’m always amazed when a new batch of students blows through the door.

At the end of each year we celebrate the students with a red carpet film festival—and I think to myself, “It just doesn’t get any better than this.”

Then a student like Gasthon Lewis walks through the door.

Gasthon is not from Kayamandi, he lives 20 minutes drive in a place called the Strand.  His community is similar to Kayamandi—in that poverty and crime are rampant—but Gasthon is by South African definition “colored”.

It’s a strange world where you learn to classify people in such ways—but what it means is that Gasthon speaks Afrikaans and is not from a black tribe like the rest of the new Level One students.

He came to Film School Africa through a friend when Gasthon had attempted a short film in his community, and our common friend knew that I’d be able to point him toward success.

At his interview I was overwhelmed with the feeling that I’m here for young people like Gasthon!

Guys who have the passion and the desire, but lack the tools and training.

A young man who once struggled with drugs and gangs, but now desires to use film in youth ministry.

In the interview he asked me a question that tied our fates together, “Can you come and teach in my community?  My community has never had anything like Film School Africaand people are asking me how can they do this too.”

I told him that we’d do one better—he’s going to be equipped to teach in his community—and I’m going to stand behind him as we continue to touch the lives of students through the power of storytelling.

Please pray for these 12 new students that have entered Level One—for the 5 more that continue onto Level Two—for the 2 students that are running the race in Level Three—and the 2 students that we sent off to City Varsity to spend 3 years in the directing program.

We’re making large strides here thanks to the generosity of people like you—but we’re far from knowing how all the funding is going to come together—but like Gasthon we move forward in faith…together.

Katie Taylor

To support Gasthon and other students like him, donate at threadsafrica.org