Refugees from countries including Somalia, Sudan, Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo are watching the matches together through the World Cup finals on July 11. The games are projected on a giant outdoor screen, around which thousands gather to share the excitement of the South Africa-set event.

Sports and movies transcend politics and can help heal and unite people – key aspects of FilmAid’s mission.

FilmAid also is bringing World Cup screenings to the people of Haiti, who continue to grapple with the effects of the recent earthquake.

FilmAid (FilmAid.org) is an 11-year-old humanitarian organization that harnesses the power of film to inform, educate, inspire and bring hope to displaced people around the globe. Founded by film producer Caroline Baron (“Capote,” “Monsoon Wedding”), FilmAid started its work in Macedonia in 1999 and has since expanded to Africa, Asia, the U.S. Gulf Coast and Haiti. Along with daytime and evening screenings of feature films with universal appeal, FilmAid shows informational clips on topics including nutrition, disease, safety and social issues. And through FilmAid’s Participatory Video Program, refugees have access to training and equipment to tell their own stories.

The Kakuma camp was established in 1992 to support Sudanese refugees and has become a safe haven for others from Somalia, Ethiopia, Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Eritrea, Uganda and Rwanda. The camp population now stands at more than 71,000 refugees, with nearly 60% hailing from Somalia and almost 30% from Sudan.

Kakuma is administered by the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Beyond FilmAid’s activities, the UNHCR is assisted by a wide range of organizations, including World Food Program (WFP), Institute of Migration (IOM), International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Kenya’s National AIDS Control Council (NACC).