The aim is to train, facilitate, promote and create more awareness among the youth and the public on how to use social media, specifically YouTube, to air their views and also affect change in the local communities. This is by creating a youth online tv channel. Traditional media in Kenya is far too inadequate and not focused on issues affecting the youth, while leaders and policy makers are less concerned in involving the youth even on matters affecting the youth.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Nairobi
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
We are a local music label that is run by the youth for the youth. We do upload our material online but the percentage that does not get online is enormous. The material also is mainly entertainment by nature. There is the general feel in that YouTube can be of more use to affect and air social issues too then just for entertainment purposes. By getting the youth to record and air their world (something which traditional media has constantly failed at), it would show the policy makers and the ones implementing them that the youth do have a voice, a sense of where they want things to go and can offer solutions.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
We are working closely as premium YouTube partners. We aim to utilise their technical expertise and support to engage the youth.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
The vision is to create a live report and news platform for the issues affecting the youth. There will be a forum through use of the comments section to get countrywide views on issues, policies and implementation of solutions and programs especially those directed towards the youth. So far what is being done is far too inadequate and the voices of the youth are not being given a chance to be heard.
What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?
Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established or plan to establish that will contribute to the success of the project.
As a music label made up of household names, we are well known not just in Kenya but in the region. We have great network in Kenya not only of fans of our music but also of fellow youths and like minded people. We do have a well documented database of influencers and grassroots network of youths in the entire country and the region due to the nature of our business.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
We aim to start training in Nairobi the capital of Kenya and the largest city ion the region. We aim to start with a group of 10 influencers then if funds permitting to continue and expand the programs to other towns.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
technical skills include:
1. online , social media skills & management
2. digital video recording
3. audio recording
5. distribution
5. marketing, awareness creation
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
We will be holding the workshops on the field mainly but we will have training workshops at the studios. We have 3 computers for the training running video editing software and have internet connection using ADSL with an 8Mps speed. 3 participants will be using one machine to also encourage teamwork. We also have 3 digital cameras for the work.
What is your current relationship with the community with whom you plan to work? What makes you the most appropriate individual or organization to implement this project?
As leaders in the industry, we are highly regarded by the community,. This is why the onus is on us to find a way to get the unheard voices of the youth heard. We aim to use the celebrity status that we have and the ears that are lent to us to positively affect the community in terms of development. We aim to demonstrate that the youth can play a big role in the development of the country.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
The major challenge will be from leaders and the politicians who are benefiting form the status quoin whereby they benefit from the hardships that the population go through and use it as bait every time there is an election by making false promises that they solve them. They feed on the desperation of the population especially of the youth to keep themselves in power.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
By choosing YouTube, a good guide will e the number of views and the comments made. This will e in addition to the awareness created among the population as well as call to action response.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
We aim to start uploading videos and from the local communities by the third quarter of the year. That is from September. Promotion and distribution will follow suit.
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
MATERIAL
Books: $20
Pens: $10
video tapes: $45
DVDs: $10
INTERNET CONNECTION: $50
HOSPITALITY
Drinks: $150
Lunch: $325
HONORORIA: $ 750
ADMINISTRATION: $ 1,000
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
We would greatly benefit from technical assistance in the area of professional video shooting and postproduction workshops or assistance.
Contact name
Calif Records, manager Thomas Mahondo
Organization
Calif Records
