What is The Kiribati Project?
In May and June 2024, a group of filmmakers from Loyola University Chicago journeyed to the Pacific island nation of Kiribati. Their mission: to introduce a dozen Kiribati youth to the art of video documentary storytelling. Equipped with tools and comprehensive training, these aspiring storytellers immersed themselves in every aspect of production, from initial concept to final production (see examples below). They received crucial mentorship and support, ensuring they can effectively utilize their new found skills and be able to share their narratives with a global audience.
Now that filming has been completed, the post-production process is underway to create a feature-length documentary that will be shared with a global audience. It will showcase life in present-day Kiribati through the perspectives and experiences of the youth involved in the project, offering personalized insights into a community often marginalized, overlooked, and misrepresented. Kiribati youth will introduce viewers to their distinctive language, culture, and unique aspects of importance that only exist in Kiribati. Through their storytelling, viewers will gain a firsthand glimpse into the significance and challenges faced by the people of Kiribati.
Why Kiribati?
Most people couldn’t locate the Pacific island nation of Kiribati
on a map. Similar to other low-lying countries, it faces issues
requiring attention to safeguard its distinctive culture,
beautiful people, and unique landscape.
The perspectives of Kiribati's youth offers invaluable insights into
a place that most will never have the opportunity to visit.
Sharing the story of Kiribati with the global community offers
an understanding of what matters most to its young people
and how they envision the future will be for them going forward.
Stories from Kiribati
Stories from Kiribati
Mataele's Story
A Tale From Kiribati
Stories from Kiribati
Experience a few Kiribati youth's stories
by watching these short narratives
created for environmental film
competitions by project filmmakers.
Get to know Kiribati
Kiribati's 33 island atolls straddle the equator in the central Pacific Ocean. Not unlike many low lying island nations, it is grappling with fluctuating conditions that can disrupt daily life. The nation's vulnerability to external factors poses threats to its inhabitants and the continuity of their lives.
Rich in culture and a diverse environment, the
Kiribati story is one that many outsiders don't know much about. Through this project, the world will
have an opportunity to experience Kiribati from
the perspective of young people who want to
share their stories with the world.
Weather
Ocean
Tropical Islands
Sun
Water
The Battle of Tarawa
The Battle of Tarawa was a bloody and costly battle that took place in the Gilbert Islands in November 1943. The battle pitted the United States against Japan, and it resulted in the deaths of nearly 6,400 Japanese, Koreans, and Americans.
The battle had a profound impact on Kiribati, which is now the nation that includes the Gilbert Islands. The battle destroyed most of the infrastructure on Betio Island, including the capital of the Gilbert Islands, and it killed or displaced a large number of Kiribati people. The battle left Kiribati in a state of economic and social disruption.
Kiribati during WWII
Kiribati during WWII
Tarawa Gun Emplacements
Kiribati during WWII
"This project's greatest benefit is empowering Kiribati youth to authentically share the story that matters most to them. Our narrative, shaped by the daily realities of life in Kiribati, is uniquely ours to tell. We are the ultimate storytellers and directors of our own journey. Equipping us with new skills, this initiative ensures our voices, particularly those of our youth, remain essential in shaping our future. It grants us the ability to perpetuate accurate, up-to-date information long after our mentors have departed."
Tiein Taebo
Producer/Co-Director
The name "Kiribati" is pronounced "Kee-ruh-bas" in English because the "ti" sound in the Gilbertese language is pronounced as an "s" sound in English. The alphabet is made up of 13 letters, including five vowels (A, E, I, O, U) which are pronounced the same as in other languages. English is the other official language but it is not as widely spoken as outside the capital of South Tarawa.
The Gilbertese language (also known as Kiribatese or Ikiribati) is a Micronesian language spoken in Kiribati and the surrounding islands. The language has a number of sounds that are not found in English, such as the "ti" sound. When the name "Kiribati" was first introduced to English speakers, it was pronounced with the "ti" sound as it is pronounced in Gilbertese. However, over time, the pronunciation of the name has shifted to "Kee-ruh-bas", which is more easily pronounced by English speakers.
Get to know the project
With over half of the country’s population categorized
as “youth" (those under the age of 25) Kiribati
youth have come to understand the challenges
they face and how to deal with issues that will
touch every citizen of their country. There is
concern changing conditions related to access
to land, access to water, access to adequate
food and so on, could be a significant reason
for pushing young people to migrate elsewhere,
thus impacting the nation's future.
To build resilience towards the future, young
people recognize the important role they play in
decisions about their future and that of Kiribati.
Beyond providing knowledge and the vehicle
to produce a documentary, this project will
also provide the necessary assistance to
get worldwide distribution of their story.
Train youth filmmaking
Identify the stories most important to their culture
Partner with Kiribati youth to film and edit their story
Secure worldwide distribution of the film
Share with the world the Kiribati story
This project places a strong emphasis on personalizing the narrative, giving the people of Kiribati the platform
to share their own stories. Through their authentic voices, audiences will better understand life’s
challenges in Kiribati. The citizens of Kiribati have
a wealth of experiences to share, and this film will facilitate that sharing process.
Audiences will gain insights into the community's perspectives and document the unique aspects of
life in a remote island location.
In addition to the storytelling aspect, this initiative will play a crucial role in preserving a visual record of the country and its culture, ensuring that it remains accessible for generations to come.
Meet the Team
Dedicated. Expertise. Passion.
Current and former Loyola University Chicago students and alumni, now established in the filmmaking industry, openly share their expertise on this distinctive film initiative similar to a previously successful endeavor. Building on the 2019
achievement in Tuvalu, this Loyola team of team of research assistants, educators, video documentarians, mentors, and crucially, filmmaking collaborators share their knowledge and skills with the youth of Kiribati.
Loyola University Chicago Crew
Kiribati Youth Crew
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Proof of concept:
We Are Tuvalu
The Kiribati Project was executed similarly to
the documentary We Are Tuvalu (2019). This feature length documentary proved that the innovation approach to telling a long form
story using inexperienced, novice filmmakers
can be done successfully.
A core group of educators and filmmakers worked side-by-side with Tuvalu youth to produce this film and successfully
repeated this concept in Kiribati.
This award winning We Are Tuvalu film was broadcast in over 50 countries through ABC Australia, TV New Zealand and nationally in the United States on Public Television (PBS) and is
available for screeing on this site.
