Local Deaf Organization Premiers Documentary at The Little Theater

Rochester, NY, July 19, 2009 --(PR.com)-- After completing a year-long journey through 8 different countries, Discovering Deaf Worlds co-founders Christy Smith (CBS Survivor: The Amazon) and David Justice are back in Rochester, NY. They will premiere their first documentary, Discovering: Shuktara, at The Little Theater on July 22nd. Although 120 hours of video footage was captured from over 100 international deaf schools and associations, Smith and Justice chose to focus this film on one particular home for young adults in Kolkata, India called Shuktara.

In May 2008, Smith and Justice spent five weeks living with the boys and girls at Shuktara to document their stories. "Many of these kids were abandoned by their families because they are deaf or have cerebral palsy," states Smith. "Like Anna, whose father intentionally left him on a train after he fell asleep." Anna was only six years old. "All nineteen boys and girls have a similar story," Justice adds. "But this film stirs inspiration rather than pity- you see how far these kids have come after getting a second chance."

According to the World Federation of the Deaf, over 80% of deaf people in developing countries have no education at all. Discovering Deaf Worlds is an international deaf advocacy organization responding to this statistic by empowering and advocating for deaf communities around the world.

In addition to making this film, Smith and Justice, along with executive director Davin Searls, are currently coordinating a language development program with the Shuktara organization, anticipated to begin in 2010. "These young adults are proving themselves to their community," says Searls. "We want to give them the opportunity to do so on a larger scale."

Discovering: Shuktara will be screened at The Little Theater at 7:00 PM on July 22nd as part of a benefit for Discovering Deaf Worlds. Shuktara founder David Earp will be in town from Kolkata, India to lead a panel discussion after the film. A social event at SPoT Coffee will also take place from 5:00 - 7:00 PM, where over $5,000 in prizes contributed by local businesses will be raffled off to attendees. Event tickets are $25, and can be ordered online at: www.discoveringdeafworlds.com/DsicoveringShuktaraTickets.html

All proceeds will go towards Discovering Deaf Worlds' language development program with the Shuktara organization.

This event is sponsored by thirteen local businesses and organizations, including PEN International at the National Technical Institute for the Deaf, Phillips Lytle LLP, Rochester Institute of Technology, Wegmans Companies Inc., M&T Bank, and the Monroe County Sheriff's Department.

American Sign Language Interpreters will be provided, and the film is open-captioned in English.

For more information, please visit www.discoveringdeafworlds.com or contact Smith, Justice and Searls directly at info@discoveringdeafworlds.com.

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