Holly Rivers is now in the Third Year of a BA Hons Broadcasting degree run by University College Falmouth, one of the founding partners in the innovative Combined Universities in Cornwall initiative. After leaving her home in Cardiff, Holly briefly continued her education in London, but soon realised she wanted to be somewhere less impersonal- in Cornwall, she found an excellent degree course and somewhere where she could really make a difference.
Holly explains that students can achieve more than just an education by attending college, "It's about growing as a person as well. Taking my degree in Cornwall has given me the opportunity to combine my two passions- film and documentary making with human rights"
Along with fellow students, Holly founded the Human Rights Society at the Tremough campus and has been actively involved in fundraising, campaigning and organising events on a variety of human rights issues.
The degree course has given Holly the skills and ability to produce films which raise awareness of the plight of people in extreme and often desperate situations, as part of her coursework. "The really good thing about this Broadcasting course is the units can be tailored to your specific interests- meaning I can really achieve something with my work".
Her short film about domestic violence against women "Re-Dress" was shown at an Amnesty International event in November to around 100 members of the general public at the Burrell Theatre in Truro School. Representatives from women's refuge centres, domestic violence support groups and the police supported the event, which was chaired by local MP Julia Goldsworthy and received coverage from local press and radio stations.
Another documentary entitled "Cornwall's Hidden Homeless", produced by Holly and three other Broadcasting students as part of their course, features the dedicated work of the St Petroc's Society- a Cornish charity which supports single homeless people by providing temporary accommodation and social care services. The striking message of the film is that homelessness happens to people from all walks of life- and that the commitment of a few people can give them a chance to regain their lives.
When Holly graduates she is keen to work in the human rights field; to continue to use the skills she has developed to raise awareness of discrimination and suffering through thought provoking films and in doing so, tackle problems that could affect any one of us at any time.
Amnesty International http://www.amnesty.org
The St Petroc's Society http://www.stpetrocs.org.uk
For advice about Domestic Violence http://www.refuge.org.uk
