As the U.S. gears up for an important election season, we at Nishkam TV are thrilled to have participated in the Why Do You Vote? Spark the Vote Social Media & Film Challenge. This nationwide contest, organized by the non-profit Money Out Voters In, encouraged young creatives to use media to inspire voter turnout on Election Day. With a total prize pool of $50,000, the contest challenged participants to produce short videos on critical themes such as Democracy, Universal Healthcare, Marriage Equality, Women’s Autonomy, Sensible Gun Laws, Honest and Fair Elections, and Climate Action.
Our participation reflects our mission at Nishkam TV—a 501(c) non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Sikh youth with storytelling and media skills. By engaging our students in this project, we aimed to highlight the significance of voting, one of the most crucial civic duties in a democracy. Through this experience, we also sought to equip our youth with the skills to use media for positive change, addressing critical issues that impact our community and society.
Why We Participated in the Spark the Vote Challenge
The Spark the Vote Challenge is about more than creating videos; it’s about inspiring communities to engage in the democratic process and use their voices. It calls on people to produce videos that amplify the importance of voting on pressing issues. We saw this challenge as a perfect opportunity to involve our youth in the democratic process, emphasize the power of each vote, and encourage thoughtful discussions on these vital issues.
For our primary submission, we created an Anchor Video in the form of a Sketch Comedy, which stars our students as a traditional Sikh grandfather and grandmother (Baba Ji and Biji) and their 18-year-old granddaughter. Through humor and intergenerational banter, they tackle the question of why voting matters. Here’s a breakdown of the video:
Anchor Video: Why Do You Vote? (Sketch Comedy)
In our Anchor Video, Baba Ji and Biji are relaxing in the living room when an ad for voting catches their attention. They begin discussing the importance of voting, but their granddaughter—typical of her age—questions whether her one vote could make a difference. A delightful and funny conversation follows in which Baba Ji and Biji explain voting through modern-day examples that the granddaughter can relate to. Whether it’s about picking her favorite Starbucks drink or avoiding a week of “only salad,” Baba Ji humorously drives home the idea that voting is about choices and, most importantly, having a say in those choices.
Ultimately, as the granddaughter realizes the importance of voting, she secretly records Baba Ji’s passionate speech about democracy. She uploads it to social media, where he quickly goes viral. By the video’s conclusion, Baba Ji is so inspired by his internet fame that he even attempts some dance moves—sparking the idea for our final, dance-themed video! This video serves as a lighthearted yet impactful introduction to the importance of voting and leads into our subsequent videos on each theme.
The Theme Videos: Topics That Matter to Us All
Following our Anchor Video, we produced seven additional short videos, each focusing on one of the themes set by the Spark the Vote Challenge. Here’s a look at these videos and their unique messages:
I Vote for Democracy
In this video, our students reinforce the theme of democracy by comparing it to a group dance, where each move contributes to the whole routine. This fun analogy emphasizes that, like in dance, every vote counts, and everyone’s voice matters.
I Vote for Universal Healthcare
Our students explore the importance of healthcare by discussing smartwatches and other modern tools that track health. Baba Ji humorously thinks the smartwatch is a direct line to Dr. Singh! The video concludes with the message that voting shapes the future of healthcare for everyone.
I Vote for Marriage Equality
This video presents marriage equality through an analogy of being left-handed. Our students discuss how we’re all born differently, yet we deserve the same rights. The theme underscores that everyone should have equal rights regardless of whom they love.
I Vote for Climate Action
One of our students panics as their phone battery runs low—a metaphor for the planet’s limited resources. The urgency of charging the phone reflects the urgency of climate action. The video conveys that just like we can’t ignore a dying battery, we can’t ignore a warming planet.
I Vote for Women’s Autonomy
This video humorously examines personal boundaries when a student tries to grab someone else’s phone. The analogy reminds us that bodily autonomy is about choice, control, and the right to make decisions.
I Vote for Sensible Gun Laws
Our students compare the rules for driving to the need for responsible gun ownership, emphasizing that both require knowledge, responsibility, and safety checks. This video advocates for sensible gun laws to protect our communities.
I Vote for Honest and Fair Elections
To illustrate the need for accurate voter registration, one student is denied entry to a concert due to an ID mix-up. This light-hearted scenario underscores the importance of honest and fair elections, where everyone’s voice is accurately counted.
Dance, Democracy, & the Voting Groove!
The granddaughter teaches Baba Ji and Biji a modern dance routine in this light-hearted finale. Through these dance moves, they pass on the importance of voting. This video celebrates bridging generational gaps and reinforces that, like dancing, voting is a responsibility and joy every generation should take part in.
Acknowledging Our Community Partners
We want to thank Why Do You Vote? for providing our Sikh youth a platform to showcase their creativity through Nishkam TV. Our students worked tirelessly to produce these videos, and we couldn’t be prouder of their dedication and enthusiasm for the project.
We also wish to recognize the invaluable work being done by organizations such as The Sikh Coalition, SALDEF, Jakara Movement, and Dasvandh Network. These organizations make significant contributions to the Sikh Punjabi community, and we hope to collaborate with them to spread these important messages even further.
Reflecting on the Spark the Vote Challenge
Participating in the Spark the Vote Challenge has reinforced our belief in the power of storytelling to inspire change. Through humor, analogies, and meaningful discussions, our videos convey the importance of these themes and why every vote matters. Voting is more than just a civic duty; it is an opportunity to stand up for our rights, shape our futures, and support causes that align with our values.
Our journey of producing these videos has been intense and rewarding. With filming over one weekend and editing throughout the week, our youth brought these concepts to life, incorporating traditional values and modern-day relevance. Their performances, particularly in our Anchor Video, reflect their talent and commitment to creating positive change.
If you’d like to watch all our videos in one place, we’ve also created a Playlist showcasing the entire series of nine videos.
Spark The Vote Playlist
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Thank you to Why Do You Vote? and the Spark the Vote Challenge for giving our youth this valuable opportunity. Together, let’s continue to spark change through the power of voting and storytelling, one voice at a time.
Behind the Scenes: Bringing Our Stories to Life
Creating this video series for the Spark the Vote Challenge was an incredible journey! From planning the scripts to the final touches in editing, our youth poured their hearts into every step. We had a blast on set, capturing moments of laughter, teamwork, and dedication. Take a peek at these behind-the-scenes shots to see the fun, the focus, and the unforgettable memories made while bringing these impactful stories to life.
