Proposals Sub-Saharan Africa
Finalist – Uganda: Right To Speak Ik
The Right to Speak Ik will mobilize, build capacity and create awareness for a handful of remaining Ik speakers in Karamoja sub region (one of the least developed and under-reported areas in the World) to use Digital technologies particularly mobile phones, digital cameras and micro blogs to not only document and preserve important ancestral knowledge and cultural wealth found in the endangered Ik language but also encourage the next generation of speakers. Invisible even in their own country, this project will bring the lives of ordinary Ik, to the global digital community.
Finalist – Uganda: Community Reporters’ Hub and Clinic
Acholi subregion has been ravaged by a Civilwar led Joseph Kony. Defined by massive killings,abduction & other forms of human rights violation. With the withdraw of Kony ,Surviving victims of his heinous hostilities are now returning to their homes hauling a multitude of untold moving stories; Stories of shattered dreams and uncertain future. Community Reporters’ Hub & Clinic is where returnees wil gather & get free professional hands‐on training on how to use small digital video&Photo cameras, Audio‐ recorders, the internet, basics of news writing, editing, bloging, storytelling
Finalist – Nigeria: Addressing Iwerekhan Environmental Concerns with Social Media
With the long history of oil extraction in the Niger Delta area of Nigeria and the environmental pollution and loss of livelihoods this instigates, documentation of impacts as experienced by the local people has become very necessary. We see a profound opportunity to harness the social media platforms for training/Workshops giving a voice to the marginalized Niger Delta communities and to push oil companies & government to be transparent in their dealings with them.This project seeks to harness the social media phenomenon to give a voice to these historically marginalized people in the society
Finalist – Zimbabwe: Promoting Citizen Journalism in Chitungwiza
We have initiated an online news platform with URL http://www.chitownews.com. The platform uses the concept of citizen reporting whereby citizens play an active role in the gathering, documenting and disseminating of news and events occurring in their communities. We therefore seek to promote the concept of citizen journalism/reporting among the young generation of Chitungwiza. This will be done through training and skills development workshops to sharpen their awareness on the concept of citizen reporting, new media and use of digital tools in amplifying their voices.
Finalist – Kenya: WOES -Walking On Egg Shells
WOES-Walking On Egg Shells is an initiative that seeks to promote progressive re-integration of ex-prisoners in their communities through micro-blogging that will highlight their struggles to fit in the community.This micro-blogs will unravel the journey from the first day they were released from prison in an effort to confront stigma, bring about acceptance and to avoid the situation whereby they feel like they are walking on eggs shells because every one looks at them suspiciously once they know that they were once offenders.
Finalist – Kenya: The Maasai Woman Diary
After the Kenya General elections in March 2013, Kenya will have the first government under the new constitution. Women need to be educated on the opportunities and benefits that come with the new system of governance. This will change the daily activities of the maasai woman. Women will be encouraged to tap the opportunities available to better their lives. This project seeks to give women a voice amidst a culture that dictates for a society ruled by men making women the subject. It will also highlight their socioeconomic needs and share it will the world in a bid to create possible solutions
Finalist – Zimbabwe: Voices from the Deep End
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.
Finalist – Mauritania: Popular Memory (MemoRIM)
MemoRim is about regrouping, documenting and making electronically available the culture, traditions, languages, life style… of old Mauritanian society, By contacting and working with local communities in 4 corners of Mauritania where these cultures and practices are still found and taking from them all material or spiritual related things in form of Pictures audios and videos.Regrouping as much as possible of this culture .When the pages of MemoRIM launch and the content becomes available organized and deeply reviewed, we have a database or a general reference and memory for this society.
Finalist – Uganda: Female Documentary Film Training on Women Advocacy
“One out of three women will experience Violence in her life time”! Women around the world are subjected to violence in many forms that has reduced opportunities for women to compete favorably at all levels. These forms of violence include human trafficking, sexual violence and harmful traditional practices like Female Genital Mutilation (FGM). The more violence against women continues, the more their rights are restricted. The project is meant to enlighten and awaken this group to acquire skills on how to document women’s issues and support women rights activism in our society.
Finalist – Cameroon: We Know, Let the World Know Too
This idea plans to mobilize, train and equip 10 youths with skills and materials for grass root social media utilization for blogging in Bangem sub division of Cameroon. It focuses on engaging youths to report on hidden electoral malpractices and cultural practices which hinder the empowerment of women and youths. Trained youths will use facebook/twitter reporting and documentaries for global sharing and call for actions. Trainees will move into the hinterlands of the Bangem collect and report to the world cultural shocks, rights abuses,governance concerns and needs for the poor.
