This project seeks to use new media to raise awareness about the San Community in Zimbabwe. The San are a group of people are on the verge of extinction. They are being faced with serious adaptation problems, living in poverty and their language is almost dying. The project seeks to create platforms where the San can be given platform to express their issues and also participate in democratic processes in Zimbabwe. The San will be trained to use new media to advocate for their rights and raise awareness about their situation.
[1]typical San home stand
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Tsholotsho
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
We will be working with the San community which is group of indigenous people found in the western part of Zimbabwe called Tsholotsho.We estimate that only about 1700 San people left in Zimbabwe.Of these only 11 adults above 65 years can speak the San language. Their language is dying, their are marginalised and treated as second class citizens to the extent that their Children do not want to be called the San. They also dont want to speak the San language. The women from the San tribe do not want to marry the San men because of the marginalisation and this is seriously affecting the San population.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The San People want to preserve and promote their cultural heritage by linking up with other communities. Using Facebook, Youtube and cellphones will enable them to share their stories with the global community. . We will produce short documentaries,audio programmes Cultural dances and music, about the problems faced by the San people.The audio programmes will be distributed on audio cds memory cards for people to listen on their mobile phones. We also want to Advocate for the rights of the San people on social media platforms like facebook , Youtube and twitter. We will hold advocacy meeting with the authorities and invite the media to highlight the plight of the San People in Zimbabwe.The meeting will be recorded and distributed on audio cds as well as online using soundcloud.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
3 members from from our group “Tsoro-o-tso San Development Society) recieved training in citizen journalism from Radio Dialogue .Radio dialogue has offered to partner us in this project .Radio dialogue is a community Radio station based in Bulawayo which uses Social media to advocate for the liberalisation of the airwaves in Zimbabwe. (www.radiodialogue.com, twiiter page @radiodialoguefm ).We also have good working relationships with The National association of non governmental organisations in Zimbabwe NANGO. They have committed to help us distribute or content and technical support.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
We are going to train 10 members in citizen journalism.This is involves the use of cellphones to send sms about what is happening in their community. They will also be trained on basic skills in radio production and video production. The trained members will then help in the production of audio programmes, online advocacy and documentary production.
The assumption is that these people who are currently unemployed will see this training as something of great benefit to them.They will be able to acquire skills which they can use to generate income . This motivation will help us sustain their interest and participation in the projet.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
Participates will be trained on how to use send a good story in 140 characters. (SMS is still an important tool in Zimbabwe because some areas do not have mobile internet. They will also be trained in radio production. How to use an audio recorder, basic interview skills as well as editing using audacity. The training will also focus on how to do short video documentaries .
Radio dialogue had seconded to us their trainer Zenzele who is a part time lecturer in new media at the local university.He is also currently a fellow in digital journalism at The International Academy of journalism (Intajour) in Germany .The chairperson of the trust has a lot of experience in facilitation and Conflict management.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
We will do the Workshop at radio dialogue offices.There have a training facility which comprised of radio production studio for training purposes, 18 desktop computers for audio and video production. ,projector screen,ADSL internet which is 1megabyte uploads and 512 downloads.
What is your current relationship with the community with whom you plan to work? What makes you the most appropriate individual or organization to implement this project?
Tsoro-o-tso San Development Association is a an organisation that was formed by the San Community to advocate for their rights. It consist of members of the San community and we work very close with the elders in the San community.
As a community our long term plan is to establish a community Radio that will give us a platform to express out views and also help us maintain our culture and language.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
The challenge we might face is the political situation. Sometimes Zimbabwean authorities see new initiatives as a threat to them and we might face challenges at the start of the project but we dont think this will be a major problem.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
The impact of the project will be measured by :
The number of people who turn up for the training.
The number of audio programmes and short documentaries to be produced.
The feed back that we get form the public when we have distributed the audio cds.
the number of people who will interact with us online eg our facebook page.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2013?
We expect this project to take place from June 2013- December 2013
June 2013-identifying people to be trained.
July 2013 training the beneficiaries as well as involving them on the online platforms.
August – September 2013 producing the audio programmes and short documentaries .
october – distribution and more production .
November – December -Monitoring and evaluating the project.
Detail a specific budget of up to $4,000 USD for operating costs.
1xComputer $600
Camera $ 500
1X voice recorders $ 250
Venue hire $300
Accommodation $600
Transport $375
Meals $450
Internet for co-ordinator $300
Co-ordinator ‘s allowance for transprt and airtime $300
Trainer $200
Contact name
Davy Ndlovu.
Organization
Tsoro-o-tso San Development Associetion