To support a farmer information centre with relevant media hard and software. Ten farmers will under go intensive training on use of the media. The trainers will then train other farmers on use of the media. The farmers will then share regularly with other farmers and the wider global community on issues affecting them in their agriculture, environment, processing and marketing. The farmers will prepare their script and tell their story.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Masvingo province,
Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.
They are rural subsistence male and female farmers who live in a remote area without even an internet facility. A lot of the farmers have cell phones and access the available networks. This shows that an internet service can be set up easily and will be used by the farmers. This is one of the forgotten communities that need to be put back on the map. It is every one’s right to hear and be heard. They are hard working, innovative change agents.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The farmers will share their story of how they dared to be different – the joys and sorrows. There will be individual and group stories of significant change. They will share on value addition, networking, mainstreaming issues, advocacy on agriculture issues, fund raising. They will share on organizing trade, food and market fairs, agriculture shows, study circles leadership and capacity building. Out put -photo gallery walks, community mapping,
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 following are networks and partnerships that my organization has existing connections – MVIWATA Farmers Network in Tanzania, Zimbabwe Farmers Union, PELUM Zimbabwe Farmers movement, ZWP, The farmer community in this project has existing links with these partners as well. Future links will include farmers in Zamchiya Village, Organizations supporting farmer participation in media such as PELUM Zimbabwe. Pro rural internet service provders.
How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?
Initially ten farmers will be trained as trainers by an internet service provider. The ten will then train another sixty sixfarmers. Other 200 farmers will learn from others. Awareness of the project among other relevant stakeholders, secondment of an information officer to work with the group, monitoring regularly, competitions, payment for internet services will motivate participation. Tangible benefits will sustain participatipation.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?
Rising Voices can second personnel as volunteers to work with the community for six months to a year. Required skills are technical for maintenance of the equipment, information management and presentation. If purchase of equipment is not part of the micro grant then then Rising voices can assist with donation of equipment for information and technology development and dissemination. Rising Voices can also link the project with similar projects.
Contact name
Irene Dube
Organization
Dev & Finance Institute For Rural Women Trust