Roshini Thinakaran facts for kids
Roshini Thinakaran is an amazing explorer, filmmaker, and journalist. She was named a National Geographic Emerging Explorer in 2007. She is also a TED Global Fellow. Roshini is from both Sri Lanka and the United States. She studies women, filmmakers, and how war affects people.
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About Roshini Thinakaran
Roshini Thinakaran was born in Sri Lanka. When she was seven, her family moved to the United States. They left Sri Lanka because of a civil war happening there. Roshini later went to George Mason University. She studied communication and journalism. In 2005, she lived in Beirut, Lebanon, for about half a year.
Roshini's Important Work
Roshini Thinakaran made her first short film about Ellen Johnson Sirleaf. She was the president of Liberia. This short film caught the eye of National Geographic. Because of this, Roshini joined the National Geographic Society's Emerging Explorers Program. She also received a special grant of $10,000 to help with her work.
Much of Roshini's work focuses on women. She researches and shares stories of women living in places after a war. These places include Iraq, Liberia, Lebanon, and Afghanistan. In 2005, she started a project called Women at the Forefront. This project looks at war through the eyes of women. Roshini spent 14 months in Iraq for this project. Her goal was to help women in war zones. She also wanted to support schools once the fighting stopped.
Her documentary film, What Was Promised (2008), was about Iraqi women. It showed how they joined the Iraqi Security Forces. This film was first shown at the National Geographic All Roads Film Project. Roshini has said that the writer Elie Wiesel inspired her when she was younger.
Helping Others: Philanthropy
Roshini Thinakaran also created a non-profit group. It is called Bridge the Gap Media. This group helps with education in areas affected by war. It helps women in war zones study abroad. They do this by giving scholarships. The group also provides resources to elementary schools. These are schools that have recently been through war.
Roshini's Films
- Women at the Forefront (2005)
- What Was Promised (2008)
- Journey OnEarth (film series, 2011)
