DOWN TO EARTH FOUNDATION

DOWN to EARTH is more than a film, it is a call to action.

**We share the wisdom of the Earth Keepers to ignite positive change through everyday action. **

The film reminds us that we are all Earth Keepers. That we carry a responsibility to leave the world a better place for generations to come. The film makes us aware of our personal relevance and our interconnectedness. And how we collectively are able to manifest change, without having to wait for anybody’s permission. Rather than continuing the aim to change the system or the mindset of its leaders, our aim is to generate people-powered change from the ground up.

This film is not to be consumed, but to be worked with.

We have seen many different ways in which the film has been used to inspire, provoke, educate or enable change. To spread the wisdom of the Earth Keepers to the wider world a group of like minded people have come together to form The Down to Earth Foundation.

The mission of the Down to Earth Collective is to ignite and enable people-powered change towards a more sustainable and regenerative world. Using the film DOWN to EARTH as a starting point, we seek to unlock the huge dormant potential of individuals and communities. This is the time to act.

DOWN to EARTH online film platform builds a global movement to educate individuals and companies to ignite positive change through everyday action. We work together as a digital ecosystem acting as a pioneer using tech in a meaningful way. The Down to Earth Collective is part of an international network of initiatives, influencers and drivers of social change. See below how you can benefit from proven options to use DOWN to EARTH to impact and move your own organisation:

Organisation

Education

DOWN to EARTH in your organisation
For corporates and institutions who seek a more sustainable and purposeful pathway, the film can be used to kick-start the process, as a dialogue starter or dialogue changer. We offer programs for individuals, businesses and organisations on their path to transformation and to align people and organizations with their purpose. No complex concepts, but ancient leadership principles translated to down-to-earth and actionable tools to put in practice right away. We work with a network of down-to-earth partners and facilitators who can support you and your organization in this transformational process.

We base our approach on Wisdom-based leadership. To discover how to sail on your own and collective wisdom to connect purpose, profit, planet & people. We go to the core of what leadership means to you & what legacy you want to transfer. Please below the organisations we have worked with used the film to raise awareness and urgency to get people from their heads into their hearts.

We can provide tailor made solutions for your company. Please contact us on info@dtefilm.com

DOWN to EARTH in Education

In the Netherlands we have won the Film Award for Education in 2017. In the 2 years Down to Earth Collective was in Dutch cinemas, we worked together with many educational partners. The experience in pilot markets NL and in the UK have provided us with enough bedding and learnings to scale up in education. DOWN to EARTH has become a true movement, with spin-off programs on personal leadership that are being used in education and companies. The time is right to scale our efforts now the film is available globally. In our pilot countries The Netherlands and the UK the film has been used in hundreds of schools and universities. Upon evaluation and request we have now made a shorter version of the film, with a run time of 60 minutes instead of the 90 minute full length version. This shorter version works specifically for educational purposes, fitting better into school schedules and accommodating shorter attention spans of our younger audiences.

To solve climate and social challenges we need to change the way we look at the world and our place in it. Our Earth shot is to help our children to be the generation that turns the tide. We work with educators to help re-skill and empower students & young professionals by fostering creativity, emotional intelligence and critical thinking. Essential for sustainable entrepreneurship and innovation to meet today’s challenges with an open mind and heart. We bring inclusion, equality and innovation through a powerful and crucial educational 'experience' using the film and wisdom shared by the Earth Keepers as inspiration.

DOWN to EARTH is a call to action. The film reminds us that we are all Earth Keepers. That we carry a responsibility to leave the world a better place for generations to come. The film is a bridge to address the need for being more inclusive, supporting students' mental well being and to bring the much needed new perspectives into education. We are all connected, which is the underlying message of the film, is what we now all feel as a result of COVID. With the climate and social challenges everybody needs to contribute to making our earth a healthier place. A thriving planet, blooming nature and where all people feel and can be part of. Moreover, this also means we need to help our younger generations to be the future leaders we need. The mainstream education system is still trying to serve the old world and is not changing at the rate the real world is changing. Companies have difficulties recruiting students that can work in a new world way and unlock their full potential, giving room to be authentic and lead from their minds & hearts. The Earth Keepers hold on to the keys for a sustainable future as there is a need to reconnect with nature, our selves & others. If you want to obtain a license or facilitated program for your class, school or university, click here. Contact us at info@dtefilm.com to explore program options.

Meet Our impact partners

DOWN to EARTH is more than a film. Watching DOWN to EARTH inspires positive change and everyday action. Meet our key partners we are getting into action with!

Buzz Women
Buzz Women is a school on wheels which encourages and assists women develop their entrepreneurial skills and self-confidence, helping them to finally overcome poverty on their own in India, Gambia, Georgia and Netherlands. The challenge: enable 10 million women to reach their full potential. The solution: access to education and sustainable entrepreneurial skills. Tangible impact: better income and savings, less debt. More confidence, opportunities and choices. We are working together on using DOWN to EARTH as part of the education program for Buzz Women. www.buzzwomen.org

Earth Keepers Project Indonesia - Launching in 2020
With Kita Anak Bangsa we recently established a collaboration to develop a people powered change program for Indonesia. We are in preparation of our first local impact project that uses DOWN to EARTH film as a means to raise funds for good causes around health, wellbeing and environmental impact. Kita Anak Bangsa is a social marketing agency based in Jakarta in Indonesia that has served many NGO’s, CSR programmes and social marketing projects in Indonesia since 2010. KAB has a strong network with many foundations and communities. Watch this space for updates!

EarthToday
For the online launch of DOWN to EARTH we partner with EarthToday. Everybody that contributes to watch the film will be rewarded with a unique EarthToday m2 - a perfect partnership. Viewers will go on a journey to visit the Earth Keepers and protect nature all at the same time. EarthToday is on a mission to increase awareness on the state of the planet and accelerate nature protection meter by meter. www.earthtoday.com

We make change
After founding We Make Change at the beginning of 2017, the online platform now enables people from across the world to use their skills to make the change they want to see. It has become a movement of 10,000s of ChangeMakers from more than 100 countries using their skills to address the challenges the world faces today. To take DOWN to EARTH to the next level it needs to travel beyond “us”. We Make Change helps to source local ambassadors to bring the wisdom of the earth keepers to as many places as possible! Want to join in? Sign up here.

BrightVibes
BrightVibes amplifies the positive impact of all good initiatives around the world. To activate a global community of good-doers and help to increase your positive impact. BrightVibes believes in the power of Contagiously Inspiring Stories. BrightVibes and DOWN to EARTH have collaborated on making content to spread the wisdom of the Earth Keepers worldwide. www.brightvibes.com

Daphne Laan Board Member of the Down to Earth Collective. Social Impact Entrepreneur and changemaker at ❤️. A long time business leader in the worlds of Telco, Technology, Internet, Media & Social Impact. When Daphne was the Lead for Women@Google NL, she undertook the experiment: What happens if you follow your heart in a business context and only do the things you enjoy? Then doors will open unexpectedly...She became the lead for Women@Google NL to empower women in tech. Her mission is to bring freedom in thinking and doing, sparking a positive impact. Daphne has enabled the global launch of DOWN to EARTH film. With The Board Whisperers, Daphne currently brings the voice to the table that needs to be represented in boardrooms and helps leaders to truly step into full potential.

Sahil Gill Lead Editor of the Down to Earth Collective. A change-maker with a passion for storytelling. He is an award-winning film editor and DOWN to EARTH co-creator from the very beginning. Sahil worked for 14 years on a variety of projects in the film and TV industry when he got a call from the creators of DOWN to EARTH. The question was whether he was available for three weeks to help them fine-tune the film. Three weeks eventually turned into three years! During this period, not only did the film transform, but working on DOWN to EARTH also had an irreversible impact on Sahil's life. His passion for film editing transformed into a deep commitment to wake up the world to the ideas of the Earth Keepers. When the film was ready, he decided to dedicate himself full time to spreading the message of the Earth Keepers and is one of the co-founders of the DOWN to EARTH Collective. He continues his work of raising consciousness and connecting hearts and minds.

PEOPLE-POWERED CHANGE

DOWN to EARTH is more than a film. It is a means to initiate people-powered change towards a better and regenerative future. The Earth Keepers in the film teach us that you don't have to wait for systems or leaders to change the status quo, you can start an initiative yourself and make a difference.

Seeing the film inspired many people to act upon their thoughts and change things in their own environment or community. The film has become a tool to work with. You can arrange a screening in your own community, organisation or company. Please get a license to show the film in your community.

Get inspired by the following initiatives and start your own initiative of People-Powered change.

Get A License

GoedVolk (GoodFolks)

GoedVolk (GoodFolks) is an initiative of a group of inhabitants of the Utrechtse Heuvelrug that wants to make a positive contribution to the sustainability of the region. Their aim is to mobilise the available talent around certain themes and projects that are important to their community.

Amnesty International Student Group

It came as no surprise how diverse, inspiring, and thought-provoking the dialogue turned out to be. All the different perspectives offered a great opportunity for us to to learn from each other and challenge our deep rooted beliefs about the world.

The goal of the Meeting Point of Leiden University in collaboration with Amnesty International is to offer a space for students that have come to the Netherlands, after fleeing their home country, where they can seek support and get advice regarding their studies.

The screening of Down to Earth was the final event of this academic year and it was undisputable a great success. The movie offered a perfect foundation to help us achieve our purpose as it offers insight into different perspectives but at the same time it shows many aspects of the common humanity we all share despite our differences.

After watching the movie, the group engaged a truly inspiring dialogue about diversity and about its benefits and barriers. The discussion was led by Sahid Gill and Rob van Waarde. Considering how diverse our group was it came as no surprise how diverse, inspiring, and thought-provoking the dialogue turned out to be. All the different perspectives offered a great opportunity for us to learn from each other and challenge our deep rooted beliefs about the world.

Following are some responses from the participants:

“The Down to Earth film was beautiful and moving to watch. However, what made the experience stand out to me was being able to digest what I had seen in a group discussion. People from countless academic and cultural backgrounds presented their (often contrasting) points of view, and this exemplified what I saw as the overarching theme of the evening; while diversity may lead to difficult debates, it also produces unique conversations that are highly engaging and enrich us all.”

-Victoria Doig Alba

“While watching the movie, I was touched by its message, because it was exactly what I learned from my own journey in South America. The perspective of those indigenous people on out way of living is amazing. It shows us that the things in life we value are not the same as they do. We miss some very important basic things, like friendship and wisdom in our western life, because we are too caught up in gaining power and making money. For me, the main message of the movie is: true happiness comes with simplicity.”

-Nancy van Veelen

“The film brought me…down to earth!”

-Lesage Munyemana

The fact that almost all indigenous communities in different parts of the world who never got a chance to exchange ideas or wisdom, share the same philosophy when it comes to sustainable living and ecological balance. I was intrigued by the words "People in modern world only think about themselves these days, however we all work for the group". I think that the basic human interaction has lost in our race for technology and modernisation which needs to come back.

Avik Chatterjjee

Trees for All

Trees for All is a foundation and acknowledged charity with CBF certification. With contributions from donors and companies, we invest in planting trees, the construction of new forests and the protection of existing forests. These projects in several countries provide extra income for the local population and contribute to the recovery of nature and environment. Furthermore, Trees for All enables afforestation in the Netherlands.

Iris Gardien, programme manager at Trees for All, saw DOWN to EARTH and immediately thought: “This is great for our organisation. The link that is made between both the magical and the useful of trees and forests is special.” It was a confirmation for her that she wants to continue committing herself to creating a better world through Trees for All. Iris organised a programme together with the Louis Hartlooper Complex in Utrecht. Employees of the organisation were invited to come watch the film, as well as business relations like ASR and ANWB.

After a word of welcome by Iris the film was introduced by DOWN to EARTH facilitator Ada Knol.In the film, fragments are shown of the Winters family visiting the Ashuar, an indigenous tribe in the jungle of Ecuador. The beautiful images of nature confront us with the fact that each day 80,000 acres of forest are cut down. Furthermore, 50.000 plant and animal species are threatened by extinction each year. The children ask their father: “Why dad? Why are they spoiling it for us? Can’t anyone stop this?” A poignant question that connects to the mission of Trees for All to stop deforestation.

DOWN to EARTH animates people to take action. By donating trees through Trees for All people can help the afforestation of our Earth. Together, by realising more trees and forests, we deliver a big contribution to a greener world – for now and for later.

You can contribute in several ways:

Donate a tree or give one as a gift
Compensate your aircraft or household emissions through creating forests
Realise a company forest
Connect your product or service to forests or trees

“Trees are positive”, says Sjaak de Ligt, director of Trees for All. “A tree is a symbol of hope, of a fresh start, rebirth en eternal life. You do not plant a tree just for you, but for the future.” Trees provide in basic needs as oxygen, food and protection. And did you know that just a half-hour walk in the forest each day will make a person feel happier?

After the film, Ada Knol facilitated a dialogue. The reactions were diverse: How do you translate this message to everyday practices? Is it a matter of ‘just doing’, or is that not realistic? All over, reactions were positive, “very much worth it”. The event closed with a lunch at the Louis Hartlooper Complex. We definitely see this as an event we, and other companies and organisations, can use more often.

RSM - Erasmus University

I have used DOWN to EARTH a number of times with groups of honours students from Erasmus University to rethink how we’ve designed the societies we live in, and to trigger their thinking about leadership, and the responsibility they themselves have – as leaders of the future, and as talented students now.

VBMS

VBMS is part of the renewable energy sector and develop offshore wind farms. Arno van poppel discusses how he used DOWN to EARTH to align the industry to make it more efficient

VivU Buntu

Vivienne (VivU Buntu) organised INTO YOUR NATURE. The purpose of this event in the beautiful surroundings of 's-Graveland was to inspire by the wisdom of the Earth Keepers in DOWN to EARTH, have a dialogue on its impact with Rolf Winters, get acquainted with the global goals for sustainable development and connect to nature and other fellow human beings.

BACK to NATURE

On 4 and 5 February 2017 DOWN to EARTH organised its first BACK to NATURE weekend. Ten children and their parents were invited to spend a weekend in the forest near Zeist, discovering the importance of the connection between people and nature in a playful way.

Big Roadside Care Day

1400 litres of litter cleared, 2000 crocus bulbs newly planted, but mainly solidarity: this was the result of the ‘Grote Ontfermbermdag’ – loosely translated as the Big Roadside Care Day – on 14 January. For this initiative, DOWN to EARTH was used as an inspiration to come to new insights and create more connection, both with nature and each other.

1400 litres of litter cleared, 2000 crocus bulbs newly planted, but mainly solidarity: this was the result of the ‘Grote Ontfermbermdag’ – loosely translated as the Big Roadside Care Day – on 14 January 2017. For this initiative, DOWN to EARTH was used as an inspiration to come to new insights and create more connection, both with nature and each other.

During the Grote Ontfermbermdag, an initiative to keep the roadsides in the communities of the Duffelt, Ooijpolder and surrounds clean and liveable, thirty people took care of various roadsides through a clean-and-plant initiative. Afterwards they watched DOWN to EARTH together. During the cleaning walk, farmer Hannes Brücker talked about how the litter in the area poses a threat to his cows, and how grateful he is that actions are being taken to prevent this. Alderman Erik Weijers demonstrated how civilians can use the app developed by the municipality of Berg en Dal to report big piles of trash and litter.

Participants were surprised that people throw the most odd things onto the side of the road and don’t realise the gravity of it. But the positive feeling they got from cleaning op the litter together also surprised them. This feeling of solidarity within their community was strengthened by the answers of the Wisdom Keepers in DOWN to EARTH, who talk about the differences in the world and the outgrowth of consumer society. A message of hope for the future emanates from their stories; of a great involvement in what is happening in the world, but mostly a message of attention to what natures has to offer, of living by the seasons, of living with the generations before and after us. Joint celebrations or rituals can be healing for a bigger circle than just the individuals that partake in it; one of the participants called the film a ‘medicine’. DOWN to EARTH gave many the insight that they must restore the connection between nature and society, of which the Ontfermbermdag is a great example. They want to actively help spread the message that we are all Earth Keepers.

An important effect of the day is that the trust in informal cooperation has increased and that new connections have emerged in the community of the Duffelt and Ooijpolder.

For more information and photos have a look at the Facebook page of Ontfermberm.

Yes We Can Clinics

When I first watched DOWN to EARTH I was inspired by the link between the film and my work in a clinic with youngsters that struggle with addiction and behavioural problems. Their issues are to a high degree connected to our current society and excessive use of social media. I wanted to show the film to these kids in combination with a lecture, in which they could think about the message of the film in an interactive way.

When I first watched DOWN to EARTH I was inspired by the link between the film and my work in a clinic with youngsters that struggle with addiction and behavioural problems. Their issues are to a high degree connected to our current society and excessive use of social media. I wanted to show the film to these kids in combination with a lecture, in which they could think about the message of the film in an interactive way.

On 8 and 9 April 2017 the 48 adolescents, split into two groups, experienced the lecture and the film. The lecture, which took place during the first half of the day, focused on our society of consumption, social media and what its use implies. We had an interactive discussion and the group got the chance to think about several theses. Amongst other things, we discussed our high material needs, the true costs of our consumption society, and the term ‘socialbesity’: an addiction to social media, under which other achievements (school, work) suffer. We ended the lecture with the question of where we can find our balance again.

During the second half of the day we watched DOWN to EARTH. We discussed the film extensively, during which the youths voiced their ideas, fears and recognition, and came up with new questions. Many mentioned that the film brings them back to the essence of life; that we sometimes forget what really is important and that DOWN to EARTH helps them to remember what that is. We discussed the cultural differences between the peoples in the film and us. This was known territory to some, but completely new to others.

The kids said they would like to see the film again because it contains so many wise life lessons. Seeing it left them with a good and inspired feeling, and at the same time made them think about their position in life – not only in their personal situations but also in society as a whole. One said it reminded them of this quote:

“If you want to build a ship, do not send people to find wood. Do not tell them what the ship must look like, but make them long for the sea.”

St. Lambertus school

On May 4 World Day, the world in all its diversity took centre stage at St. Lambertus school. Students (16-18 years), their parents and teachers were shown the movie DOWN to EARTH. Seeing the film as an intense and experience, the dialogue after was revealing and confronting.

Trash as Treasure

Natasja Essers: On a cloudy Saturday in October my partner and I met Rolf Winters and his family through the white screen at the Happinez event. The message of DOWN to EARTH had long been hidden somewhere in the depths of our minds, and the film seemed to lighten up this essential spot in our brains: humanity is in such big danger that our existence in balance with nature is threatened. We have work to do!

On a cloudy Saturday in October my partner and I met Rolf Winters and his family through the white screen at the Happinez event. The message of DOWN to EARTH had long been hidden somewhere in the depths of our minds, and the film seemed to lighten up this essential spot in our brains: humanity is in such big danger that our existence in balance with nature is threatened. We have work to do!

After the screening we, and the rest of the audience, had a conversation with Rolf. After a walk through the woods we came together around a fire where shaman Steve led a ceremony to connect with mother Earth, the winds, the sun, our ancestors and each other. The warmth of the fire and the event stayed with us for a couple of days. It seemed that a kind of metaphysical connection had come into existence between the visitors of the event, Steve, Rolf, the singers near the fire and the Earth Keepers from the film – a lovely bubble to float in.

After the heat of the fire of those first days had cooled down, the bubble suddenly burst and we were both attacked by uncertainty and sadness. What was happening here?

The inspiration flowed away, and we started scrutinizing every act in our daily lives. We couldn’t stop seeing ourselves as wasteful consumers. It was good to share our worries and we decided: let’s not drive ourselves crazy, but let’s feel the responsibility and deal with it at our best. Let’s see what we can do. It's great if we succeed in doing something different for the good, if not, then at least we tried and maybe we’ll take that step in the future.

And then we ordered new mattresses. We had chosen for mattresses made of almost purely organic materials that becoming mostly biodegradable after ten years. But when the mattresses were delivered we were shocked: Both mattresses were packed in big, thick plastic bags and around the bag was a big cardboard box. After unpacking we watched the garbage dump we had just produced. Slowly the inspiration we felt from DOWN to EARTH came back to us. I suddenly saw a how these giant cardboard boxes could turn into canvasses to paint on. I remembered how a friend, who is a teacher at an art school, had told me about the new studio at her school. I texted her pictures of the ‘garbage’ and asked her if it was useful to her and her students. “Wow, those are great materials to use in our new studio!”

Two days later we were at a parking lot, carrying the cardboard ‘canvasses’ from my car to hers. “Do you like Dionne so much you’re giving her your garbage as a present?” our mates joked. Full of self-confidence about this tiny but effective contribution to the ‘Earth Keeping project’, I answered happily: "Just watch DOWN to EARTH, you’ll understand…"

Natasja Essers