Slum communities in Kenya are largely inhabited by low income earners, a good number of whom are either illiterate, partly educated or lacking in skills. These communities are marginalized not only by the society they are part of but also authorities who only remember them in times of tragedies. Our project will train slum residents how to tell their stories through video and pictures and share the same with the world through the social media.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Thika
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
We shall work with youth and women groups and community organizations from four slums in Thika town namely Kiandutu, Gachagi, Madharau and Kiang'ombe. Due to the high levels of poverty in these informal settlements, communities in these areas have little or no access to many essential services let alone the internet. And with little or no access to authorities or the mainstream media, they can hardly be heard. This project will give them a voice.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The participants will shoot video and take story telling pictures that will be uploaded on a community Facebook page and YouTube account. This will enable them to share the media as widely as possible to the many followers whom they will mobilize including the duty bearers, opinion leaders, authorities and even the mainstream media which can amplify the stories further if need be. We shall also introduce them to flicker, picasa and other outlets.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Other tools
Film screening and photo exhibition
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.
We intend to engage government officials, slum residents and groups implementing programs in slums. These will include women and youth groups and/or community based organizations, the local administration, county authorities and the local journalists among other stakeholders. These are the key stakeholders that need to be involved if this media project will bring positive change in these informal settlements as an advocacy tool.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
Our project will see at least 100 youths and women trained extensively on video and still camera operation, taking quality and storytelling pictures, video shooting, video editing, content sharing and basic journalism skills. We shall train the participants in phases to ensure high concentration of the students during training and proper understanding.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
Our main objective as an organization is to empower slum communities through films and pictures. This we intend to do this through shooting and screening films in slums on the various issues affecting the residents while seeking solutions. We shall also use photo exhibitions as part of our advocacy. We shall highly appreciate your help to acquire shooting, editing and screening equipment, as well as screen the films and organize photo exhibitions
Contact name
David Kiarie
Organization
Zoom Advocacy Organization