From the Nominator

"The Gholam Heritage Cluster Rehabilitation video was prepared by the Office of Communications in support of the AUB4Beirut Disaster Response funds. The response was established after the catastrophic Beirut Port explosion of August 2020 that destroyed large swaths of the city, killed over 200, injured up to 7,000, and displaced 300,000 people. 

The video focuses on the inhabitants of the building--descendants of the original owner--which dates back to the Ottoman era of the late 19th century. It is a reminder to all generous donors, past and future, that the work we are doing is not just about replacing windows and repairing walls, but rebuilding communities, restoring hope to those affected, and recovering our vanishing heritage.  

The inhabitants lacked the means to repair their home and were being offered money by developers to leave. To help them remain and rebuild, the AUB Neighborhood Initiative teamed up with other funding agencies concerned with preserving Beirut’s heritage and helping those affected by the blast. Over the course of 10 months, working hand-in-hand with the tenants and according to heritage building restoration specifications, the Gholam building was returned to its former glory. 

For the video, other funding partners donated footage they had taken of the reconstruction, which we combined with footage taken on a mobile phone. The script, storyboard, and editing were done in-house at zero cost. The video resonated with viewers, garnering over 3,400 views, far more than any of the other AUB4Beirut videos. To date, AUB4Beirut Disaster Response has raised over $9 million."

From the Judges

This video gave a very human face to the recipients of the AUB4Beirut Disaster Response funds. It had compelling storytelling, and we liked how the video focused on one family, which allowed for a holistic story. Very effective use of budget. Well done and deserving of an award!