Gorilla Journalists Center is a futuristic project based in Kigali. We understand that Rwanda is a country of story tellers. Unfortunately, most of these talents have not been nurtured to benefit the society. The Center hopes to utilize the grant to promote the development and distribution of online video in Rwanda. We will conduct extensive workshops on the fundamentals of citizen media to both traditional journalists and common Rwandans. We have laid down structures to encourage our students to share their new skills with marginalized Rwandan communities including survivors of the genocide.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Kigali
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
As a journalist and a blogger, I have in the recent past had the privilege of interacting with quite a number of youth from different facets of lives within our community. Most importantly, I have discovered their untapped potential in storytelling. This group plays a major role during the development of my proposal as their needs and aspirations forms the foundation for my entire project. Despite the fact that their story telling sessions have become very popular; their content reach has always remained local. Through this project, I will work with them in sharing a wide range of stories about their communities with the world at large using the new media. This will not be too difficult since they have basic knowledge in computers and occasionally check their emails.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
I fully understand that to effectively run this project I would need a dedicated team. Christian Gakombe is an experienced cinematographer. https://www.facebook.com/chrisdaddy.intare?fref=ts and www.rwandafilm.org John Mugabo’s skills in photography which will definitely inspire our stories. https://www.facebook.com/mugabo.johndady?fref=ts. Lastly the team at Shutter Film Rwanda, our host during this training will inspire our project on day to day basis.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Our content will initially on inception provide balanced stories related to local issues affecting the community. This will be through photographs, eye-witness reports and analysis. Ours will be an image oriented blog. The stories will delve on health, culture, education, politics, sports and entertainment. We will also produce short films describing their own lives and communities. We will post these articles on our blog as well as using VoD platforms such as YouTube and Vimeo to upload videos. A hyper link will allow readers to view footage via these platforms. The blog will allow for commentary by readers. As time progresses we shall incorporate other elements that will stimulate our content based on feedback. The English language will be the central language of communication.
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.
Gorilla Journalists Center plans to collaborate with different organizations in Rwanda and especially those that work with youth. A shining example is Agahozo Shalom Village that gives hope to survivors of the genocide and under privileged youth in the society. For a start, we have just completed to produce a short video on the young talents the village inspires on daily basis. We believe that once an organization like this among others gets satisfied with on our expertise, they might in future contract us to do their video work as well as train their youth on citizen media. This will ensure continuity for our project. We have also contacted the newly established platform – RwandaBox.com that plan to share and sell local content over PayPal thus making the world a smaller market place.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
We shall begin with six participants comprising of two writers, two still photographers and two videographers. They shall be trained in all aspects of citizen media but will have areas of specialization. Creativity and enthusiasm for the arts will be the primary criteria for wanting to take part in this initiative. I believe the events happening all around them is a motivator enough that will sustain interest. There has never been such a project in Rwanda and this group of people will be happy to finally find a voice to express themselves and share their stories. By ensuring that they have access to the necessary resources and over time getting more youth involved, there’s an endless supply of participants to ensure the project’s survival.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
We are looking at low cost computers, modems, blogging sites, flip Videos, digital still photo cameras. As a film school graduate and script writing award winner, my wealth of experience in creative writing will inspire the participants. In addition, my video-editing prowess editing on professional and low end editing software will come in handy. I am convinced that I am creatively as well as technically equipped and prepared to handle this project. My co-coordinator, Christian Gakombe is a film mentor and senior cinematographer in Kigali Rwanda. His work works have won many awards and this includes the recent international film ‘Open Heart’. John Mugabo’s skills photography has continued to inspire most of us who value the art. He will definitely inspire our participants
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
Since last week, we have been locked in a constructive discussion with a local based film production company, Shutter Film Rwanda, a company I have worked for a while, on the possibility of using one of their spaces to conduct the workshop. They will benefit from free advertisement on our videos credit rolls as part of the executive producers. We will also have some of our graduate access internship opportunities at their company. The room is quite accessible to most of our participants and this means that we will not have transportation problem. There are six computer tables, chairs and a direct electricity connection. The modem Internet is ok with a speed that is quite fine for our needs. It ranges from 12m/s to 45m/s.
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 a resident of Kigali since 2008 when I decided that I wanted to tell stories. My relationship with communities living here is very cordial as they acknowledge my efforts in imparting knowledge to new generation. My big presence on the social media is a plus for me as I have been able to create many connections online. It is now time to meet the people that we have chatted for ages on the same subject. Falling in love with the city comes naturally after taking in its picturesque scenery, unique valleys, and cool weather. I wouldn’t know if I am the best individual to lead a project of this magnitude but I am definitely one of them. Being a young person myself, a national award winning filmmaker doesn’t hurt my general appeal.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
I envision two distinct challenges. The first key issue is from a technical angle. The percentage of high school kids with access to computers is alarmingly low compared to western nations. Therefore getting to grip with the intricacies of information technology may be difficult at first for some of our participants. Fortunately all my colleagues are all computer savvy. Our training will involves a crash course in the basics of computer systems whether participants are learned or not. The second one is the possibility of participants leaving the program and creating a vacuum. However, we shall have stand-bys. There are an unlimited number of participants who have demonstrated interest already. Most importantly, we will ensure that our participants are motivated on a daily basis.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
After the first three months of training and sharing experiences amongst participants, we will discover if they are still on board with the same zeal that inspired them to sign up to the project in the first place. If they are, we will then know that we are getting somewhere. We will also try to share the stories produced with the community in terms of free outdoor screenings, social media, blogs and most importantly on the mobile gadgets. We will try to listen to the discussion that this stories will create among members of the community. Overall it’s the comments, the feedback from readers that will be the litmus test to determine the success and eventual continuity. We are really positive on the success.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
Once my project is given a nod, I will assemble my team for a meeting to fine my tentative program as shown below;
May 1st – May 15th – Research, Preparations, Call for participants
May 16th – May 30th – Workshops
June 1st – June 14th – Initial Online Trials
June16th – Take-off full time online (Blog, You-tube, Vimeo, Twitter)
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
Hardware – Two low cost Computers (laptops) – $600
Internet access, – Two 3G Modems with six months subscription – $300
Workshop costs, – Welfare, Transport allowance for participants, $300
Coordinator expenses – 3 coordinators – $750
2 Flip Videos costs –$300
2 Digital still photo cameras – 150$
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Well, in the short term the initial funding from Rising Voices covers most of our primary objectives, i.e. workshop and equipment. Further funds wouldn’t be as intensive as the initial sum. But in the long run as we expand to other regions after the success of our model, then the need for further funding will come into play. We feel that posting our progress on Rising Voices website will be a big thing for us since the site is more established and can reach more people. Lastly, we will make maximum use of the ‘contact’ page on Rising Voices site therefore we will be happy for instant reply to our questions.
Contact name
Joseph Waweru Njata
28 comments
Citizen media is an idea whose time has come. I suppose you will have challenges casting your participants. Almost every young person in Rwanda would love to be on board. To me, it sounds like an idea that can be supported by other NGOs. However, it depends on how you go about it’s implementation. Crossing my fingers for you!
Thanks a lot Peris for your kind words. I believe that it is now our time to give back to the community. I am crossing my fingers too
Starting this project in Urban center and later using these graduands to share the knowledge with rural folks is awesome! A positive step in the right direction. Seeing this come true is the best thing would happen to these talented youth in Kigali.
@Mathenge, i agree with you and i also believes that this project would not have come in a better time.
This sounds like a very good idea. Go for it brother this project will nurture young talents in sharing stories with communities and beyond. Good luck!
Thanks brother. Sharing stories with communities forms the bend rock in our resolve
Quite ambitious brother. I will definitely be on the look out…
I am not involved in your industry but I have know you for a few years and you are a dedicated and passionate film-maker. You have a strong desire to tell stories and have a true gift. I love that you and Christian are working together…a dynamic duo for sure! It’s great that you are determined to make this project a success…there are so many brilliant minds in Rwanda just waiting for a chance to shine! Good luck and I wish you lots of success!
Thanks Marie Collins for your kind words and as you said, our team has got all what it takes to pull a successful project.
Rising Voices is a good platform to fight the status quo. I believe that online business empowers young minds than anything in the past. The question that you are going to tackle now is how to help the youth package a moving story and how to trumpet it and you are credible because you have done it before in our team. Definitely, with you as a member of East Africa Documentary Network, we wish you all the best and promise you all support that you need. God Bless you.
@Mukhula, i definitely get your point and packaging captivating stories is all what we need to succeed in this one. A support pledge from East Africa Documentary Network is exactly what the doctor ordered. Thanks a bunch.
Thanks a lot Peris for your kind words. I believe that it is now our time to give back to the community. I am crossing my fingers too
@Mathenge, i agree with you and i also believes that this project would not have come in a better time.
Jo!! this is a good project, i think every Rwandans or everys one should admire this, yes!!! we need such kind of project in this country where youth want to be filmmakers but knowlegdestill abigproblems!!
keep up1 thisproject bro………..
Thanks Muhire for your kind words. We definitely need to give back to the society. Training these talented but needy Rwandan youths is what the doctor ordered. Crossing my fingers and toes on funding.