Why Joaquin Phoenix Wants You to Help Change the Lives of 20 Teens

By Gabrielle Olya

06/26/2014 at 12:05 PM EDT

J Carter Rinaldi/FilmMagic

Twenty teenagers are heading to a transformative week-long camp – and Joaquin Phoenix is asking for your help in creating a documentary to share their story.

Teaming up with Be More Heroic and The River Phoenix Center for Peacebuilding, Phoenix, 39, is working to raise $40,000 to produce a film that will follow the journey of teenagers from across the country as they attend CAMP MORE.

"I'd like to share with you an opportunity of how we can change 20 lives in seven days," Phoenix says in a video promoting the project.

The teenagers attending the seven-day camp in Big Bear, California, this July have all dealt with personal challenges, from transitioning genders to suffering paralysis. CAMP MORE aims to mentor these teens and to help them develop relationship and communication skills, emotional intelligence, conflict resolution skills, and most importantly, a sense of purpose.

Phoenix and his partners hope CAMP: The Documentary will help inspire viewers by providing them with the same tools provided to the campers, as well as starting a larger conversation about often divisive topics.

To donate to CAMP: The Documentary, click here.