Growing Up Global – short documentary

Growing Up Global”, a short documentary made at Mont’Kiara International School.

“This documentary has been made with passion and determination to give all those who struggle with their identities hope. Hope to find themselves. Hope to better understand who they are. No matter how lonely someone feels, it’s important to know that you are not alone and that there are other people feeling what you’re feeling somewhere in the world. It’s been a dream come true working on this project and we are very grateful for those who supported us.” – Ana Hummes Ota

Where do I belong? What is my culture? Where will I end up? Where is home? These are some of the questions that weigh on the minds of our modern day ‘Third Culture Kids’ (TCKs). Students attending international schools around the world have faced the challenge of assimilating into unfamiliar environments, making new friends, and learning local customs.

All of this sounds glamorous, but being a TCK has its challenges. This short documentary film highlights some of these challenges; it also sheds some light on the fact that if you are a TCK, you are not alone. The brainchild of a Mont’Kiara International School student, Ana Hummes Ota, Growing Up Global is a wonderfully balanced documentary that takes into account the lives a handful of students who recognize themselves as TCKs. Produced in collaboration with Mont’Kiara International School and a Portuguese journalist Madalena Augusto, it is a documentary that is bound to open the eyes of many viewers to the lives that these young global citizens lead.

Growing Up Global was premiered on Friday, August 30, 2019 at Mont’Kiara International School.

Music: “Where is Home” by Elliphant feat Twin Shadow.

Special thanks to Lisbon Works and Madalena Augusto


More TCK documentaries

tck documentary

A TCK Documentary – Alaska to Africa

A TCK documentary exploring the world of seven siblings in Ghana, as they adjust to a new culture and wrestle with the questions about home and belonging that all third culture kids can relate to.

Featuring the Gelatt family, missionaries through ABWE. Filmed in November of 2018. No profit is being made from this film.

Soundtrack created by Spencer Parkhurst – check him out on SoundCloud here.

Filmed and edited by Hannah Mathews – check her blog out here.

Watch more documentaries about TCKs here.

In Between – A TCK Documentary

“In Between” is a 23-minute documentary that explores the identity development of people who have grown up as third culture kids. Identity is our sense of who we are and guides our interests and our life choices. Moving between cultures affects the development of identity. Through the stories of three TCKs, the film investigates the often-overlooked effects on adults who had international upbringings.

By Elsa Hendriks

Watch more documentaries here!