AIME, an Australian charity organization recently launched worldwide with a unique film crafted by creative partner, M&C Saatchi Sydney and directed by Academy Award winning director Laurent Witz and his team at Zelit Productions. AIME works to bridge the gap between privileged and under privileged Australians through mentorship.
University student volunteers are partnered with under-privileged high school students in a mentor relationship. This relationship encourages the high school student to see the opportunity to achieve graduation and reach post-school education, training and employment.
CEO and Founder Jack Manning Bancroft said in a statement: “If we want to change the world, we need to change the way it works. Inequality is an epidemic. The richest 1% of the population have accumulated more wealth than the rest of the world combined. AIME allows everyone around the world to play a part in changing this broken system. Our programs are crafted with the power and resources to improve the lives of millions of people globally. I’ve seen the change for twelve years and have no doubt that this program can and will change the globe. It’s time for the mentors to rise.”
Twelve years ago, AIME was founded by Jack Manning Bancroft, a young aboriginal man with a dream of bridging the inequality gap through education.
Shockingly, the average of Indigenous kids in Australia finishing school is 61.5%, with only 42% going on to tertiary studies. Those who receive assistance from AIME are more likely to complete their studies with the numbers at 87.9% and 74% respectively.
The powerful launch film was a year in the making and illustrates the unfair system the world is built upon. The story, which is set in a giant machine city, showcases how the city is designed to favour some, while others become workers in its forgotten engine. The hero of the film realizes this unfairness, acts upon this realization and empowers change.
M&C Saatchi’s Group Creative Director Andy Flemming added: “In these truly troubled times, it’s humbling to be part of a group of truly visionary people who want change the world through absolute positivity. AIME have taken thousands of kids who were on the path to unemployment, gangs (or worse), and through mentorship showed them the path to a better world. It was their simple vision to heal a broken society that attracted Laurent Witz and his incredible team to the project, and almost a year later, their beautiful film has brought AIME’s mission to life. We couldn’t be more proud of it.”
AIME is currently looking for ten young people in the UK and US to set up the AIME program in their chosen university to start helping under privileged children in their communities through mentorship.