Wilcox Kids Video Institute (WKVI) is a voluntary association of 4^th and 5^th grade students who attend Elsie H. Wilcox Elementary School in Lihue, Hawaii. The students of Wilcox Elementary School write scripts, cast, act in, and film movies to make their school better. The movies are public service announcements on matters of concern to students, bullying, learning, and being accepted at school. The students also conduct and film interviews of public officials on matters of concern to students. Students are interested in learning what other students have to say. When we see our keiki teach their fellow student something we have been trying to teach them, we know they have learned it.

The primary issue area in which we work is educating our keiki by assisting them in the writing of scripts, casting of short movies, filming and performing in those movies.  The movies are public service announcements on issues of concern to the students: bullying, learning, and being accepted at school, The students also conduct interviews of public officials and film matters of interest to the school.  We find that students are interested in learning what other students have to say, that the lessons we teach our keiki are best learned when our keiki teach each other, and that through the writing and production of short public service announcements, our keiki are learning many valuable career skills.

The completed movies are broadcast to the public on community television, and to the school community on an in house broadcast system.  Currently the in house broadcast system is using an obsolete board which has difficulty accepting the student work in currently accepted format, is frequently down for repairs, and often emits a distracting hum or produces a fuzzy picture.  The cost of a new board is approximately $5,000.  If successful., WKVI would seek matching funds to purchase a new board.