The threat of the loss of local agricultural knowledge is real,with the youth losing interest on farming. Young people are increasingly becoming culturally alienated. The project hopes to tap the power of media to counter this trend, with people as content creators and having control on media. The project aims to change the youth’s attitudes and enhance intergenerational communication that will preserve and promote local agricultural knowledge.
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Ivana, Batanes and Bay, Laguna
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The power of video and digital storytelling will be unleashed. Content will focus on a) education – younger generation will appreciate knowledge sustained through generations of climate uncertainties and realize their role in preserving their culture; b) enhancement of self-esteem; c) reflection on their problems and turning learning into action; d) latent content – breaking up monopolies of knowledge by promoting grassroots knowledge.
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.
The proponent is currently involved on a project with indigenous peoples. Her past work was on community-based development projects in in the Philippines. For this project, she will partner with NGOs such as UPLB Foundation, Inc. for administrative matters and Tubig Kanlungan Foundation for video production trainings, and established farmer-organizations in the two project areas.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
The project will train a total of 20 young people but will also mobilize their parents. Content creation will involve the process of storytelling, dialogues and decision-making between the youth and the elders. Outcomes will be awareness, learning, reflections and realizations that will bridge the intergenerational divide. Sustained participation will be enabled by the existing farmer-organizations in both areas which the proponent has links with
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
Rising Voices can provide manuals on low-cost video production that can be translated in local languages. It can also invite the youth-trainees to workshops that it will organize where they can share their experiences and reflections with regard to the project.