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Project: Meet The Soldier Hack the Planet

THE STORY

In Karamoja, North East Uganda, decades of violence have prevented any chance of peace. The violence is a result of the dry climate in the region: inhabitants rely heavily on their cattle, making the lack, or abundance of, these animals the difference between life or death. Lack of cattle not only means a lack of food; social contracts may also force young men into robbing cattle from rival communities, as cattle is often used as a wedding gift. This results in violent, long-lasting conflicts through which too many lives are being lost.

THE PURPOSE

To remedy the situation, the Ugandan government provides disarmament programmes; community-based social and religious support are also being offered. Although the use of firearms and the number of robberies are decreasing, Hack the Planet aims to reduce the tension by increasing empathy and awareness amongst the violent actors involved in the conflict.

Our partner ‘Mensen met een Missie’ has been working for decades on peace and reconciliation in Karamoja, they aim to build sustainable peace through mediation and creating empathy between opposing parties. Meet the Soldier is an innovative and groundbreaking initiative through which takes peace and reconciliation efforts to the next level.

Two soldiers will see the situation through their rival’s eyes, using 3D/Virtual Reality techniques, in order to create an understanding of their enemy’s situation. Will a change of perspective also change their minds?

The purpose of Meet The Soldier is not only to improve the lives and social relations of the ones affected in the documentary, but also to cause positive change for those who watch it. Let this production be a source of inspiration – a push into a new direction. Let it restructure the way you think about your opponents and let it be an encouragement to stand in their shoes. Only then selfishness can become selflessness; only then conflict can lead to reconciliation.

“My entire life I have held a fascination for incomprehension and the consequences thereof. It is unnecessarily heartbreaking and frustrating. Incomprehension leads to hate, polarisation, racism and even to war and genocide. Why don’t we try harder to understand each other?”

-Teddy Cherim, director Meet The Soldier-

So much misery and sadness in this world arises from fear, hate and incomprehension. Let this project connect as many people as possible and create the positive butterfly effect we need to see that “under the sky, under the heavens, there is but one family. It just so happens that people are different”.

-Tim van Deursen, founder Meet The Soldier-

We are proud to partner with Hack the Planet. This important and innovative project stimulates understanding between people embroiled in long-lasting conflict. Meet the Soldier connects different realities. With its intelligent use of techniques and theory in the field of virtual empathy, it proves to be groundbreaking. It will definitely set the stage for an inspiring discourse on how we can overcome prejudice, build bridges between people and search for common ground.

-Rick van der Woud, Director Mensen met een Missie

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