Climate, Water, Life and Land – Resilient Communities In East Africa

Join us for this screening and panel discussion led by local filmmakers, bringing stories of community action from East Africa!
 

Eitai - 59:19 min - 2025 
Director: Sally Bashford-Squires 
A Documentary Film Exploring Community, Togetherness and Change in Rural Uganda. Eitai is a powerfully moving documentary that delves into the challenges faced by a rural community in North-Eastern Uganda. Filmed in Teso and co-produced with celebrated Masai filmmaker Sonyanga Weblan, Eitai—an Ateso word for "community togetherness"—is based on doctoral research conducted by Sally Bashford-Squires, a PhD graduate of Nottingham Trent University. The documentary explores critical global issues, including the interconnected challenges of climate change, poverty, alcoholism, and gender-based violence (GBV). It highlights how social enterprise projects not only provide economic opportunities but also create safe spaces for knowledge sharing, environmental action through tree planting, and community sensitisation via music, drama, and dance. Through vivid storytelling, Eitai underscores the importance of indigenous knowledge and communitarianism in addressing pressing global crises. It calls for stronger relationships among people, the land, and non-humans to mitigate further environmental degradation. The film also captures unique narratives on combating HIV and GBV, as told by participants through their lived experiences and cultural expressions. 
 

Water, Life, and Land - 16:49 min - 2025 

Director of Photography: Sonyanga Weblan 

Water, Land, and Life documents how sand dams, permaculture practices and land restoration are mitigating climate change through sustainable development in Laikipia, Kenya. Told through Indigenous voices, the documentary demonstrates how these incredible structures are not only capturing precious rainwater but also restoring degraded landscapes and supporting thriving communities. 

The directors Sally and Sonyanga warmly invite you to join this meaningful discussion on community-driven solutions to some of the most urgent issues of our time, and will join us for the discussion after the films.