Cultivating Change: Empowering Women in Balqa's Fields

Project Overview

Produced in collaboration with Acted, this short documentary highlights agricultural development and women's economic empowerment in Jordan's Balqa Governorate. The film follows a dedicated local farmer who cultivates peppers and cucumbers. Equipped with comprehensive pre- and post-harvest training, along with essential equipment like greenhouse supplies, organic fertilizers, and salinity testers, she successfully utilized a grant to expand her operations and launch a food processing venture for late-harvest peppers. The narrative beautifully captures her partnership with a neighboring Syrian farmer, illustrating how shared resources, joint harvests, and collaborative market visits foster profound community bonds.

Objectives

• Highlight Women's Empowerment: Showcase the direct impact of Acted's financial grants and technical training on female-led agricultural expansion and small businesses.

• Demonstrate Community Integration: Visually capture the collaborative and supportive relationship between local Jordanian and Syrian refugee farmers working side-by-side.

• Engaging Storytelling: Tell an inspiring, human-centered narrative that highlights the transition from raw farming to value-added food processing to maximize crop utility and income.

The AE Films Approach

Filming in the greenhouses of Balqa requires a sensitive, observant, and adaptable documentary style. Our production team focused on capturing the authentic, collaborative bond between the farmers in their natural working environment. We utilized the natural light within the agricultural structures to capture vibrant b-roll of the pepper and cucumber harvests, as well as the new equipment in action. By prioritizing intimate, high-quality on-location audio, we ensured the personal testimonies of mutual support, both moral and financial, resonated deeply with the viewer, maintaining a high cinematic standard throughout the production.

Results

• Inspiring Visual Asset: Delivered an emotionally resonant documentary for Acted’s digital platforms that champions female entrepreneurship and resilience in agriculture.

• Showcased Social Cohesion: Provided clear visual documentation of how livelihood programs can successfully foster community collaboration and integration.

• Amplified Outreach: Empowered Acted with a compelling storytelling tool to advocate for continued investment in sustainable farming, women's empowerment, and community-building programs.