YOUNGSTERS from various ethnic backgrounds in Great Yarmouth were able to show their film-making capabilities at a show held at the Priory Centre on Tuesday last week.

YOUNGSTERS from various ethnic backgrounds in Great Yarmouth were able to show their film-making capabilities at a show held at the Priory Centre on Tuesday last week.

The Young Voices project was set up by BBC Voices and Norwich-based Mind, the mental health charity which also has a diversity project working on behalf of people from the black and minority ethnic communities in Yarmouth.

Its aim was to encourage youngsters from immigrant families between the ages of 13 and 19 to put their experiences on a three to five-minute film with no specific title.

All of the five entrants had only been in Yarmouth for 18 months to two years and each one had a story to tell through a teenager's eyes.

Diversity co-ordinator from Mind, Joy Barredo, said: “These excellent films were made by five young black, and minority ethnic people from the Lithuanian, Portuguese, Filipino and Polish communities from Great Yarmouth and Acle.”

The film makers, who are only identified by their first names, were all aged between 14 and 17.

Laura, from Lithuania, is 14 and said: “I think it is good to be able to talk about yourself. My film showed my passion for football. Through this love of sport I found new friends and I would like to go to Brazil. But I would also like to study archaeology. The only thing I miss from home is the snow!”

Martyn, from Acle, aged 14, is English-Filipino. He said that he would like to make a living out of making films in the future.

Joanna, the third 14-year-old, is originally from Portugal.

She said: “I enjoyed making the film about how I settled down here with my family but I would really like to become a singer either like Celine Dion or Witney Houston.”

Ieva is 15 and has been in the town for 18 months and lives here with her father. She said: “I based the film on my own experiences of making new friends here. People I met were very kind to me and I now feel at home, although I do miss the remainder of my family, including my mother, in Lithuania.”

The oldest of the contributors was 17-year-old Justeyene, from Poland, who said: “I tried to convey my own experiences of settling here. I did have a problem with some people in the initial stages. I do enjoy doing things for others and I like the shopping with the choice of goods available here.”

Laura, Joanna and Ieva are all pupils at Oriel High School in Gorleston, Martyn attends City of Norwich School and Justeyene attends Great Yarmouth College.

The scheme is funded by the lottery and is the third such initiative.

BBC co-ordinator Gary Standley said: “Originally we jointly produced a series for radio and television called Life in Norfolk with contributions from people from ethnic minorities.

“This particular initiative is focusing on young people from the ethnic community, and the schemes have worked very well.”