【影片簡介】小小的善舉 A Small Act
【信念實踐】篇 Beliefs & Reliefs
小小的善舉
A Small Act
美國 USA︱ 2010︱ 88 min︱ Jennifer ARNOLD
2010 日舞影展
Sundance Film Festival
2011 艾美獎最佳紀錄片入圍
Nomination for Best Documentary, Emmy Award
當希妲贊助一名肯亞鄉村的學童，她並沒有想到自己的小小善舉能為這個孩子帶來多大的影響—當克里斯從哈佛法學院畢業，並成為一名聯合國人權律師，為了感念希妲，克里斯成立以她為名的獎學金，資助家鄉小學中成績優異的學生完成中學教育，但這些孩子必須達到KCPE（肯亞基礎教育認證）三百八十分以上的成績。這些孩子們就像是從前的克里斯，富有資質卻苦無機會。
本片拍攝同時，肯亞發生暴動，無數生命喪失。痛心疾首的克里斯深刻感受「無知是暴力社會的溫床」，「受教育是肯亞偏遠村莊小孩，唯一掙脫外在限制的路徑」，更堅定他進行獎學金計畫的信念。
但出乎克里斯的意料，整個區域只有一名學生達到他原先設定的錄取要求。為了讓更多的孩子可以獲得獎學金，克里斯懇求基金會董事們重新設定獎學金標準，卻也有董事質疑：假若放寬獎學金標準，讓成績不佳的孩子念了中學之後，卻無法考上大學，基金會的投資豈不白費。
本片一方面將缺乏教育資源的孩子們的心理描述得動人，同時呈現了慈善事業所必須具備的理性思維。導演試圖啟發更多善舉循環：即使是小金額的贊助，也能改變另一個人的一生。
When Holocaust survivor Hilde BACK sponsored a young rural student , she thought nothing of it. She certainly never expected to hear from him, but years later she does. Now a Harvard graduate and a Human Right Lawyer for the United Nations, Chris MBURU decides to find the stranger that changed his life. Inspired by her generosity, he starts a scholarship program of his own and names it for his former benefactor.
The top students in Mukubu Primary School are in the exact same situation as Chris once was. They are bright, but can’t afford to pay school fees. With the creation of Chris’ fund, these students have new hope. But the program is small how may will qualify for a scholarship?
Using a strong narrative, the film interweaves seemingly separate lives into a cohesive whole. With clarity and grace, A Small Act bears witness to the ripple effect a single action can create.