I would like to train and mentor up to 20 Kuria youths to be citizen journalists at NURU International center. They will be part and parcel of the Royal Media Group. The training will cover the use of free and widely available citizen media tools and social media like blogs,microblogs such as twitter,Video sites like YouTube, free software like Audacity, Social networking sites like Facebook. Focus of the project is to revive the dieing Kuria language and culture through digital storytelling,Songs,Dancing,Poems and Education. All these will be uploaded and/or downloaded and listened to.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
SIRARE TOWN
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
I have chosen the youths because they are energetic and of good mental software, their brain cells are still fresh. They are also vibrant and ready to learn new ideas in favour of their fast eroding culture and language which is underrepresented demographically,linguistically and geographically. This programme will not only renew and reinvigorate their interest but also instill more confidence in the language and culture. The Royal Media Group also gave me the mandate to look for 15 Kuria citizen journalists to represent Kuria community in the Media Industry but I am not successful and they have put-off the deadline to be end of September 2014. The programme will also provide an opportunity for the target population to familiarize themselves with the usefulness of the computer.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
1. NURU International; Facebook account-NURU International.
2. Royal Media Group (R.M.G); Facebook account-Royal Media Group.
3.Writers and University Kuria Experts;
a) Dkt. Muluvi Geophry; Facebook account-Muluvi Geophry.
b) Dkt. Munene Mary; Facebook account-Munene Mary.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
My vision for the content is the youths will narrate the history of Kuria and produce pictures of how they found their root and settled in Kenya and Tanzania (documented in their blog). They will also share the short stories (in written form) and pictures of Kuria dancing styles through the social networking system. They will also ask questions on lesson learned from the short stories.
Since Kuria language is one of the rare languages that lacks abusive words, this puts it in the front-line to promote good morals, civic education and responsibility on the young ones and newly married women in the society. The main aim is to make people be proud and love their culture and language.
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.
I have the basic training facilities that can accommodate 20 youths. The Royal Media Group also promised to hire the highly competent Writers and University Kuria language experts provided I can accommodate them and cater for their traveling and meals expenses. I already have an established good working relationship with NURU International center and the education authority. It has been my dream to restore my community culture and language especially now that my fellow youths are quite hungry for the digital world.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
20 youths with good brain cells and socially active who in turn will use this acquired knowledge to train other youths from different parts of the community,that is, training of the trainers.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
I have a cyber-cafe with 20 desktop computers,besides I am also a computer-trainer, where I train people on blogging, how to effectively employ the use of social networking and Video sites. These computers have audio recording software and internet access. I have the education and teaching experience to train the participants. I am also Church choir trainer. I am ready to share all these with my fellow youths in relation to reviving our culture and fast eroding language.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
The workshop will be conducted at NURU International center. At least 23 desktop computers will be used. To successfully carry out the workshop, we need good internet connection (Wifi) because the wifi at NURU International center may not accommodate up to 23 computers.
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?
Kuria is community is my mother and father. I have their interest at heart. It doesn't please me to see the young generation being forced by parents to speak in Swahili and English while some are sent home from various learning institution to go and buy novels because they have spoken in their mother-tongue. The Royal Media Group is creating employment to youths from randomly selected community groups in which Kuria has been selected.My long-term commitment is to set an agreed period over which the trained will vacate the offices or positions for younger ones to carry on with reviving the Kuria culture and language in order to preserve our culture fresh.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
The major challenge is insecurity as this place is at the boarder but I'll persuade the participants to help me in carrying the desktops back home where they will be safe, this may then result in poor time management but we will adjust.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
I will participate in training the participants along with the Writers and University Kuria language experts. I'll train them to train others and I'll evaluate this by monitoring the level of awareness of computer usefulness in the digital global amidst youths of the community. I will assess the youths across the community.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
ACTIVITY 1
Mobilization and selection of the target group.
TIME FRAME
May 8th-11th 2014.
ACTIVITY 2
Training of the participants on the use of free and widely available citizen media tools and social media platforms.
TIME FRAME
June 02nd-29th 2014.
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
Internet access $500 (Increased speed)
Workshop costs $800 (refreshment and preparation)
Coordinator's expenses $700
Traveling expenses of participants $400
Translation $100
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Help me with 2000(US Dollars) to cater for the accommodation and traveling expenses of the Writer and University Kuria language expert over period that they will help me to carry the exercise.
Contact name
FAY MOURIAH CASTROL MAURICE
Facebook URL
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