New life in schools for The New Ten Commandments

Eight years ago SDI teamed up with Nick Higgins to co-produce The New Ten Commandments, a series of ten short films on Human Rights from a Scottish perspective. Now thanks to Nick, an academic at University of the West of Scotland (UWS), and UNICEF’s Rights Respecting Schools initiative and with the support of Creative Scotland, every Scottish secondary school will be given a workshops package based around the films to help young people develop a greater understanding of human rights.

The Learning Through Film workshops will include the 10-minute documentary films and corresponding forty minute workshops, designed mainly for S4 to S6 students. Featuring stars such as Oscar-winner Tilda Swinton, a directorial appearance by Trainspotting author Irvine Welsh and top Scottish filmmakers such as Douglas Gordon and Mark Cousins, the films communicate a variety of artistic visions whilst exploring the real life stories of those for whom the Universal Declaration has intimate meaning. Topics covered include the right to a fair trial, to freedom of expression, to privacy and to asylum.

Following a University style approach to learning, the workshops allow pupils to form their own opinions and conclusions as well as helping them understand their own human rights and the importance of standing up for them. The workshops encourage participants to recognise challenges that exist for human rights everywhere – not just in developing countries, but also in Scotland – and their own role in standing up for the rights of others.

The workshop package including a DVD of the films can be purchased for £15 + postage.

Or you can stream the film for just £2.50.