The project aims to train community women how to capture the local environmental issues related threats, solutions, opportunities and how to feed the outputs back to the community via blog posts, online videos, photos, news articles with the objective of empowering local communities. While using the latest technology, it is proving that digital media can give a voice to a community and bring them to a common understanding about their problems.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Serrekunda
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
The Serrekunda area of Gambia is predominantly a semi urban community with 60% of the population comprising of women who are marginalized in terms of access to the latest technologies and in dealing with issues of national development. This project will provide an opportunity for the local women to be actively involved in sensitizing the public and disseminating information on environmental issues of concern through the use of digital media.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The project will train the local women on how to use digital media to develop a blog, video documentaries, take photos, write articles and journals and news updates on environmental issues within their community. They will create awareness on issues such as access to water, sustainable energy, food security amongst other major issues of concern.
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.
CI is working with the Departments of State for Education and Department of Community Development in implementing the project through provision, identification and mobilization of participants. CI has conducted a needs assessment survey and has previously worked with this community on human rights and peace building training therefore we have a wonderful social experience that will be useful in the effective implementation of this project.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
Initially the project will train 10 local women on how to use digital media to develop a blog, video documentaries, take photos, write articles and journals and news updates on environmental issues within their community. They will then infiltrate the community as they conduct step down trainings to the rest of the community.Their participation will be sustained by running commercial advertisements on the blog at a fee and through public support.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
The Department of Community Development will take an active part in terms of implementing this project through provision, identification, and mobilization of community women who will take part in the program. Our local partners namely Network for Development Initiative and Brother Shaka Foundation will provide resource persons who will assist in the training of the participants of this project.
Contact name
Phyllis Machuka
Organization
Conscience International (CI), Gambia