This project aims at training young ROMA from the Tetova region on online media literacy through which will be able to express their culture,their struggles,their identity and the discrimination that they face. Additionally, the project will try to portray the future of ROMA, the way they see it not the way that it is tried to be imposed by other communities;the social inclusion process from the perception of ROMA themselves in terms of how they want other communities to include them and not to force them into integrating; build communication links between young ROMA and the rest of the youth.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Tetovo
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
The idea of the project came as a result of a discussion with one of our ROMA volunteers that described all the prejudices that they face which is more highlighted by the fact that only ROMA NGOs work with Roma people. Given that LAI works on Human Rights we accepted to start a project on that specific topic using the concept of media literacy. They are marginalized by the fact that they do not have access to technology or internet because of their economic situation and those that do have access do not know how to use online media techniques for portraying and promoting their own identities and cultures. The internet literacy among the high scholars, is not as low which will help us on training them on issues on concepts and methodologies that can boost their skills.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
1. Tamara Atanosaska http://tamaraatanasoska.wordpress.com/ , https://twitter.com/TAtanasoska
2. Filip Stojanovski, https://twitter.com/razvigor, http://globalvoicesonline.org/author/filip-stojanovski/
3. Julie Chamberland , https://www.facebook.com/julie.chamberland.520?fref=ts,
4. Frosina Ilievska, http://www.researchgate.net/profile/Vesna_Ilievska/ , https://www.salto-youth.net/tools/toy/vesna-ilievska.1869/
The above mentioned names are out potential trainers that we will engage in our project. We are also planning to establish a memorandum of cooperation with ROMA NGO “Sonce” http://www.sonce.org.mk/index.php/en/
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
We want to create and use blogging, because as explained in the rest of the project, its a media tool that allows to incorporate other media networks such as youtube, instagram, facebook, twitter ect, Blogging will remain forever as a place that everyone can refere to it when wanting to learn more about the life of Romas in the region of Tetovo, Macedonia. Stories such as everyday life of Romas, tradition, high and low culture, language, music etc.
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.
We already have a very good cooperation with the ROMA NGO “Sonce” in Tetovo. Many of their members are our volunteers and we try to always incorporate them in our acitivites, therefore this organization will already be very helpful towards us with the implementation of the project. Metamorphosis foundation is an experienced NGO that works with electronic and social media. One of their employees will be the trainer of our project. The other establish partners that we already have are the high schools in our city. We have a very good cooperation with them since our last project that we worked on “Towards a Hate-proof Freedom of Speech in the Online Platform: Challenges of the Social and Electronic Media” and we will count on them to help us select the target group.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
We expect to have around 15-20 participants, with possible over representation of females.. We will be selecting them with the help of their school principles and ROMA NGOs that they are members (if any) because this will ensure us a more continues participation. We believe that this will project will be a strong motive for the selected participants to be part because they will be trained to become ToT and this will enable them to have an impact and a stance in their community. The reason why we want to recruit them through their education institutions is because in this way they will be more responsible towards the project and once they see the benefits of the project they will want to be part of it and contribute.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
We decided to use blogging as the main technological tool because in comparison to other channels, this online media allows for multiple types of media to be used such as: photos, videos, narratives, drawings, art, music, audio etc. In addition, the participants will be trained and encouraged to use social media such as Facebook and Twitter as a marketing tools of the blogs. Also, YouTube channels and Instagram will be used in order to maximize the reach of the project.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
The workshops will be hold in the offices of Liberal Alternative Institute. Our offices are located in the city center of the town, very easy to access. We have a conference room (for up to 50 people) and two other room offices. We posses tables, chares, project/office materials and a wifi internet.
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?
We live in a city that is composed of four ethnicity such as: Albanians, Macedonians, Turks and Romas. We are witness of seeing everyday how the Romas are the most discriminating group in the region, but national wise as well. We believe that we are appropriate organization to implement this project because only ROMA NGO work with Roma issues and there is a need to brake this change of such practice and to prove that someone else cares, someone that is not coming from a ROMA origins but are ready to help this groups to get integrated. Also, our organization is composed of young people (age 28 the eldest) and this is a prove that we are truly engage in our work since we want to see a change and a better future for the community where we live.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
The only problem that we may face during the implementation of this project is the availability of the girls to be part of this project. ROMA young teenage girls may face difficulties to be part of this projects because they may be restricted from their parents. However, we are planning to have talks and discussions with their parents and explain them the core idea of the project. We will invite the parents to visit our offices, to see how the project will be implemented and this may help us gain their “permission” to let the girls be part of the project.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
First and foremost, if we manage to keep 15 participants involved the whole year, it will be consider as a great success because by the end we will have 15 train ROMA activist, Second, in the content wise, the blog of a project will contain different contents portraying the ROMA culture and through the help of social media many people in the region will get to learn more about the everyday life of ROMAs that are being prejudices a lot. We are planning to have a “Roma NIGHT” and this will helo us engage the wider community to which the message will be reached.
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
The project would last for one year with a possible continuation. Our workshops activities would be following:
– Workshops on Culture ( 2 workshops per month, June 2014)
– Workshops on Photography ( 2 workshops per month, July 2014)
– Workshops on Video ( 2 workshops per month, August)
– Workshops on Narratives (2 workshops per month, September 2014)
– Workshops on Social Media (October 2014)
November: initiation of blogs, YouTube channels and Instagram accounts; Exhibition of photography and selected narratives texts
December: workshop on online and media activism
January to May 2014: regularly monthly with participants; preparation of strategies for engaging the wider community, ROMA movie night, ROMA culture presentation (and other possible topics that will come as a result of discussion with the participants)
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
The budget will be spend in the following activities/needs:
-Project Trainers: $30×10 =$300 (10 trainers, $30 per session)
-Project coordinators: $80×12= $960
-Equipment: Two photo camera (with video option): $600 for two
-Workshops refreshments:$15 per workshop = $180
– Printing materials: $100
Total: $2.140
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
We would be very thankful if the following materials can be provided for us:
– any kind of publication on media literacy, youth, online activities, Roma issues,
-any kind of media materials , documentaries, movies, interviews, audio etc
-promotional materials from rising voices: key chains, mugs, folders, badges, buttons etc
Contact name
Enisa Bajrami
Organization
Liberal Alternative Institute
