The main aim of the project is to bring the discussion on climate change to the local level by digital storytelling. Providing tools for the citizens of the flooding islands of the Maldives for expressing their daily routine difficulties resulted from environmental change. It would raise civil consciousness and help to build the communication platform between government and distant islands.
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Participants will be encouraged to video record their stories, feelings and happenings connected to the issue of flooding. The process of temperature and sea level raise manifests itself in many ways, such as in local house flooding, changes in the animals behavior, atmospheric phenomenon. Islanders could monitor and document what is going on in their island with the help of citizen media.
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.
Most importantly I have established relations among the Maldivians, which is crucial for gaining trust and enthusiasm for touching personally sensitive subject for the participants. Word of mouth should simplify to reach the target of interest. I am affiliated to Polish Academy of Sciences, which is supporting anthropological project I am conducting in the Maldives.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
According to census in 2006 there is around 800 inhabitants of Kolhufushi. I believe that training one member of the family is the best idea. It is possible to train about 40-50 inhabitants as the first stage of the project.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
My stay and research in the Maldives is funded by the Polish Academy of Sciences as well as multiple tourist organizations, which I am helping to promote Maldives in the world.