Announcement: AIC Partners with Educational Non-Profit ProjectExplorer.org to Create Film Series in Iran

Dear AIC Community,

I am excited to announce that AIC is partnering with the award-winning educational non-profit, ProjectExplorer.org, to send a small film crew to Iran in Spring 2018 to produce a series of short, high-quality, educational videos about everyday life in Iran. 

Having first traveled to Iran when I was 16 years old, I know first-hand how intercultural understanding gained early in life can have a huge impact years later.  Now, as Director of Operations at AIC, I want to share the experience I had with today's youth.  While we can't transport millions of American students abroad, we can bring Iran to them.  

The videos we produce as a result of this partnership with ProjectExplorer.org will be distributed free of charge to classrooms and educators in the US and around the world so that students can learn about Iran as part of their standard curriculum.  ProjectExplorer.org content currently reaches over 6 million students (ages 8-18) annually.  Additionally, we plan to share the Iran Series widely on social media and with a major television broadcast partner that has millions of viewers.

More information about this project can be found below.  I firmly believe that this project will help educate the next generation of global citizens and lay the foundation for a more peaceful future.  If you support this cause, please make a tax-deductible donation on our website or a financial pledge to donate upon the final issuance of visas by contacting me directly at stephanie@us-iran.org.

Thank you in advance for your support of this important project.

Sincerely,
Stephanie Lester
AIC Director of Operations

Additional Project Information

About ProjectExplorer.org

ProjectExplorer.org is an award-winning non-profit organization whose mission is “to bring the world into the classroom with free multimedia content that improve students’ global awareness and cross-cultural understanding.” 

What They Do:  

ProjectExplorer.org travels the world, filming interesting sites and producing content based on each country’s culture and history, which they provide to learners and educators everywhere, free of charge.  They have an audience of over 6 million students between the ages of 8 to 18. Interested in learning more? Watch this video about the organization or visit their website for more information.

ProjectExplorer.org Awards:

ProjectExplorer.org Media Coverage:

Television & Radio:  Al Jazeera English, BBC Radio, SABC2 (South Africa), 702 Talk Radio (South Africa), WLTX News 19 (South Carolina), AM910-WJCW (Tennessee), WLCN radio (Illinois),  MSNBC, NY1, Brooklyn Independent Television, and Cablevision’s Neighborhood Journal

In Print:  Oprah Magazine, Daytona Beach News-Journal, Bay State Banner, Albany Times-Union, Bangor Daily News, Salt Lake Tribune, Kettering-Oakwood Times, The Times (South Africa), The Sowetan (South Africa), The Eastern Times (Malaysia), Jordan Times (Jordan), Al Dustour (Egypt), Education Week Magazine, and New York Teacher Magazine

Online:  Forbes.com, The Center for Digital Education, Essence.com, PmC Magazine, Next Women Magazine, Jauntsetter, Matador Travel, Ciao Bambino, Serious Eats, Quarter Life Magazine, She Takes on the World, Go Mexico Guide, and UrbLife.com

Topics the Iran Series Will Cover:

✤  Tech Innovation in Tehran

✤  The Ruins of Persepolis

✤  Ancient Engineering of Yazd

✤  Interview with a Member of Parliament

✤  The Art & Architecture of Isfahan

✤  Music and Poetry of Iran

✤  Culinary Traditions

✤  Interview about Shia Islam

✤  The Red Village: Life in Abyaneh

✤  A Day in the Life of a School Child

✤  Zoroastrian Culture

 

What Educators Are Saying About the Project:

“This is much needed as there is very little cultural education about Iran done in the US.” 
- Scott Auspelmyer, European History Teacher (South Carolina)

“Now, more than ever, Americans need to see the real Iran, not the "Death to America" chants that the media shows.”   
- Chris Heffernan, World History Teacher Jefferson Middle School (Illinois)

“Great choice! Seems like most Middle Eastern countries are often painted with the same broad brush, so what a great opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of Iran.”  
 - Todd Cannon, Middle & High School Teacher at Southwestern (Indiana)

“This would be incredible! Only with education can we understand and only with understanding can we find common ground and only with common ground can we find peace. Maybe by educating our youth we can hope for a better tomorrow.”
  - Henry Martone, Teacher at John Thomas Dye School (California)

Filming Itinerary

Production Dates: April 2018 (Final Dates TBD)

✤Day 1:  Tehran.  Transfer from airport to hotel.

✤Day 2:  Tehran.  Morning filming Friday prayers at Imam Khomenei Shrine and interview with an ayatollah about Shia Islam.  Afternoon interviewing contemporary musicians.  Filming Tabiat Bridge at dusk.

✤Day 3:  Tehran. Morning filming Golestan Palace and Niyavaran Palace. Afternoon interview (2-3 hours) with fashion designer.  Dusk filming Honarmandan Park.

✤Day 4:  Tehran. Morning interview with Member of Parliament. Afternoon filming and interviewing tech entrepreneurs in Pardis Park.

✤Day 5:  Tehran.  Morning filming sports match.  Afternoon “food tour” including filming grocery store and traditional meal preparation. 

✤Day 6:  Tehran.  All day filming life of a school student, age 12-14.

✤Day 7:  Travel from Tehran to Isfahan with stop for 2-3 hours filming in Abyaneh.

✤Day 8:  Isfahan.  Morning and dusk, filming Isfahan bridges.  Mid-morning filming Vank Cathedral.  Afternoon filming Music Museum, classical music performance and interviewing museum owners. 

✤Day 9:  Isfahan.  All day filming Imam Square, Mosques, and Bazaar.  Chehel Sotun if time permits.

✤Day 10:  Travel to Yazd.  Possible scenic footage along route.

✤Day 11:  Yazd.  Morning filming Zoroastrian Culture & Customs, including Tower of Silence & Fire temple; Afternoon filming qanats and qanat museum.

✤Day 12:  Yazd.  Morning filming wind towers.  Travel to Shiraz

✤Day 13:  Shiraz.  All day filming Persepolis, Naqsh-e Rustam and Naqsh-i-Rajab.

✤Day 14:  Shiraz.  Morning filming Vakil Bazaar (including Vakil bath) and Shiraz gardens.  Afternoon filming Nasir al Mulk Mosque and Hafez Tomb.  Tomb of Saadi if time permits.

✤Day 15:  Crew departs

Budget & Sponsor Benefits

ProjectExplorer.org and AIC are splitting fundraising responsibilities for this project, which is expected to cost approximately $150k.  AIC must raise $75,000 to make this project a reality.

ProjectExplorer.org has graciously offered AIC donors who make a financial contribution of $10,000 or more, the following sponsor benefits: 

• Logo placement with verbal recognition at the end of every episode from the Iran series
• Expert on-camera contributions from relevant companies
• Invitations to all screenings and social events through 2019
• Logo & marketing message on the ProjectExplorer.org website as a Leading Supporter
• Speaking opportunity at Iran series debut in NYC (approx. 100 senior-level attendees from corporate, non-profit, and media sectors)
• Images and stock video footage for marketing / promotional use
• Participation in live-stream events with educators and classrooms from relevant experts

Please contact us for more information about these benefits or to make a donation.  You can also donate on our website, and indicate that you would like funds to be used for this project.