A film to be shown just before the Dalai Lama’s Sept. 12 Kids’ Day address, “Laying the Foundation of the Future,” will examine the compassion of Idaho’s children. The approximately eight-minute documentary, being produced by Boise State University students, grew out of Gov. Dirk Kempthorne’s invitation to young Idahoans to tell the world what compassion means to them.

Communication student Saandra Steinfelt is producer for the project. Others involved include Boise State adjunct instructor Jesse Cordtz (who with Steinfelt owns A Window to the World production company), students Erin Monnie and Matt Dewey and TVTV station manager Terry Christenot.

The film will focus on children as young as 5 and as old as 18 who display compassion through community service. Children were filmed at the Idaho Foodbank, the YMCA, the Meridian Boys’ and Girls’ Club, Meals on Wheels, St. Luke’s Regional Medical Center and other locations.

Steinfelt worked through Karil Sokoloff of Sun Valley, a follower of the Dalai Lama, to get permission to film both this short piece and a one-hour film documenting the Dalai Lama’s visit to Idaho. The suggestion to create a piece focusing on children was a natural fit, since both Steinfelt, a youth leader at the Treasure Valley Community Center, and Cordtz, who grew up with a day care center at his home, have extensive experience working with children. Both also work with the Idaho Children’s Educational Film and Television Foundation.

Those who are not able to view the short documentary at Sun Valley will have an opportunity to see it at Boise State later this fall. Details of that event have not yet been announced.

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Contact: Jesse Cordtz, Communication Department, (208) 793-2932;
Saandra Steinfelt, (208) 793-2932

Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Relations, (208) 426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu