The project will provide training to people with disabilities and their representative organisations in digital storytelling, aiming to empower participants with the skills to convey to the general public their experiences and the issues of relevance to them. Two training workshops will be followed by pubic screenings that will highlight the commonalities that exist across the Cyprus divide so contributing to improved dialogue and understanding.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Nicosia
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
Disabled people and their right to participate in everyday life are severely underrepresented in the mainstream and online media. The situation is mirrored in the island's Greek Cypriot and Turkish Cypriot communities where the ongoing conflict overshadows issues of common concern. Over the last year disability organisations have become more vocal with regards to their position in society, and CCMC would like to support and amplify their voice.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Participants will be creating human interest stories in different digital formats about their everyday lives, the challenges they face, and their aspirations for the future. The digital storytelling training will offer participants the opportunity to create personal stories as well citizen media for public dissemination online. Material utilised will include in-studio and on-location audio and video interviews, as well as digital photographs.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Other tools
Audio Slideshows combining digital photography with audio recordings.
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
CCMC's membership comprises 44 civil society organisations islandwide working on a variety of issues including disability, and is a member of the ‘Peace it Together’ network. CCMC also maintains partnerships with 10 mainstream media outlets through which it can promote the project and its outputs. Moreover in April 2013 CCMC will be launching an online community radio station in partnership with the European Commission Representation in Cyprus.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
Through sustained and targeted outreach, CCMC expects 30-40 participants to attend the training. Information meetings will be held with representative organisations to inform them about the project. CCMC will create communications and social media strategies to support the project, the products of which will serve as fora for future discussion on disability rights. CCMC will also offer follow-up support for dissemination of the content created.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
CCMC will involve Rising Voices at a variety of levels and phases of the project. It will seek to broaden its network through links with applicants working on similar issues and projects, and will involve Rising Voices in its communications and social media strategies in order to maximise project outreach locally and dissemination internationally. CCMC will also seek the participation of Rising Voices during the workshops through live-link ups.
Contact name
Beran Djemal
Organization
Cyprus Community Media Centre (CCMC)