Students create documentary to shed light on struggles in the Downtown Eastside

“Community Connect: A Legacy of Compassion” is a short documentary produced by Corpus students, which aims to inform and inspire their peers about the struggles faced by individuals in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside.

The idea for the documentary emerged during a Leadership class initiative where the students distributed essential items on the Downtown Eastside. The experience opened their eyes to the harsh realities faced by the homeless community, prompting them to delve deeper into the issue.

As one student expressed, “People don’t know about the situation. People don’t know how bad it is. There are people that are trying to figure out their next meal or just trying to think. It reallydid change my perspective. Not everyone knows what’s happening in our city in the Downtown Eastside.”

Students Amuthiny Arun, Ana Brkich, Lily Ngo, and camera operator Riley Frost, set out to create a documentary that would not only highlight the issue of homelessness but also inspire their peers to get involved.

“I think it’s important to acknowledge that all of us here are extremely privileged. And I wanted to specifically showcase how students can be the ones to start the change,” said Ana Brkich, one of the student producers.

The documentary highlighted the efforts of organizations like the Catholic Street Missionaries, founded by Mildred Moy. Moy, who left a high-paying job at IBM in 2003 to devote her life to serving the homeless, has been a source of inspiration for many of the students.

“I’ve always wondered what we can do as students? How can we do more? And I’ve always wanted to be an example of a leader by using my resources and turning them into something bigger,” remarked Ana. The students hope that their documentary, which Ana presented at Showcase 2024, will inspire their peers to engage in social issues and contribute to positive change.