Community Media Initiative proposes to bridge the gap of information in the rural grass root communities via digital media.We shall highlight the issues that affect the society,document and use it to enlighten the community by doing community outreaches and video shows hence provide a
platform on which their stories and views are shared with the global community.With effective use of social media,we hope to keep the community updated on current affairs and explore opportunities that are available for them as alternative means of livelihoods.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Kisumu
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
We shall focus on the rural and Peri-urban villages around the Lake
Victoria region.These communities are majorly a fishing community and
the illiteracy level is very high.This is due to the high rate of school
drop out,poverty as well as practice of social ills like sex for fish
and early girl child marriages.Computer and internet are not common as
computer literacy is practically less than 10%.This translates to the
few people available online from these communities.
Circulation of information is particularly poor because of the poor
reading culture caused by the illiteracy and poverty.Most people prefer
to watch and hear as opposed to reading hence audio-visual modes of
communication best fit them.Information is power,and we are motivated to
apply it as a tool to
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
Lillian Esman (Mass Media) https://www.facebook.com/nyakwar.obilo
Elijah Okello (Audio recording/editting) https://www.facebook.com/chok.nyangiro
Francis Odhiambo Omungo (Perfoming artist) https://www.facebook.com/francis.odhiambo.33
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
We shall be highlighting sociocultural issues and practices in the
community.These practices define our communities and is a good avenue to
learn.Another area of great concern is the economic aspect of the
society.This will highlight the fishing industry which is the main
economic activity in the lake region communities but also seek
alternative sources and opportunities for the people.
Community media Initiative will also highlight some of the best
practices from outside this community to enlighten the community as
challenge them to better themselves.We also intend to inform the people
on the current happenings from within and around the world at large so
they are up to date as regards information and news.
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.
Benson Nyangiro who is an artist and operates a recording studio from his house(Future)
Magnet theatre which conducts community outreaches using drama and puppetry(existing partner of Ecofinder KENYA)
Myndz Commuinty( www.myndz-commuinity.com) Future
Kisumu artists for children (Future)
Radio Lake Victoria (Future Partner)
Lake Victoria TV (Future Partner)
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
We shall train five participants.Their participation will be sustained
through volunteering and in kind support from Ecofinder Kenya.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
I am a trained film maker from multimedia university(Kenya) and have
excellent skills on camera,digital photography and video editing.My
partner,Elijah Okello is a master of audio recording and editing.Lillian
Esman is trained on mass media and Francis Odhiambo is a performing
artist with Kisumu artists for children program and Magnet Theatre.
Digital video is most efficient in our community as people appreciate
more what they see and hear rather than reading.This is attributed to
the high illiteracy level in the community.Internet and social media
users are few because of computer illiteracy and due to high poverty
levels a majority are not connected to electricity and lack financial
might to buy mobile phones and computers.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
We will conduct our workshop in Dunga wetland Pedagogical center which is a
community space with Five computers,Public address system,projector and
internet modems of 21mbps and access to electricity.The space has a
capacity of 20.For community workshops,we have access to Dunga community
hall which has a capacity of up to 150 persons and is only 100metres
from the wetland centre.
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?
I have been part of other successful projects in the community which
include but not limited to environmental restoration projects,Eco
tourism as alternative source of income for the youth and most recently
women in green energy and entrepreneurship project and solar lamp
projects.Ecofinder Kenya on the other hand has conducted lots of
entrepreneurship trainings,peace leadership and governance
workshops,built for the fish mongers modern energy saving cook-stoves
for frying fish and is in the process of landscaping the
community.Ecofinder Kenya also does theater outreaches in the
community.I am part of the Dunga community as this is where I live for
over twenty years now!!
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
1.some people do not like to have their pictures taken.We shall talk to the community and have them sign release forms before we film anything.
2.Since we do not have a studio,we shall make good use of our office space for editing.
3.At the moment we do not have a professional website for community media initiative,but shall make good use of free websites and social media sites to publish our work.
4.We shall try to continue our work with limited or no funding through volunteering and making use of free resources.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
The number of community members who participate in the initiative.
Number of views and shares of our video documentaries.
Peoples comments on our social media sites.
Number of follow up stories in the mainstream media.
An impact survey on the community after the release of our documentaries.
The number of individuals who show up at our video shows and community outreaches.
The number of partners/sponsors who join our initiative.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
First month:we would do a community outreach to make them aware of our project and all that is involved.We would then shortlist individuals to report any incidences and stories.
Second Month:Procure and buy the editing station,Dictaphone and camera and do an orientation training on use of the equipment,community Journalism and social media use.
we would also shortlist all the social,cultural and economics issues in the community based on priority.
Third Month:we would select the most chronic issue and do an extensive research on it.
Fourth Month:Do a documentary on the researched issue
Fourth month:Conduct community outreaches,do video shows of the documentary and publish it on social media platforms and video sharing websites such as you tube and vimeo.
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
editing station $1000
Camcorder $700
internet & communication $50
Coordinator expenses $100
Community Outreach (Launch) $150
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Our project would get a major boost if our team's capacity is boosted by way of further training on media technologies.
Contact name
Sylus Owiti
Organization
Ecofinder Kenya
2 comments
You have my support.Its high time people know that there is much more to Dunga than just fish!Can’t wait to see the new dawn for the people of Dunga community.
Great initiative brother. Will always follow the implementation of such a great project. Good luck.