Tell digital stories about issues important to the community. The objective is to contribute to project the voice & share stories with the world as a means to provide insight to the community, their challenges or successes, told from a uniquely personal perspective. Free and widely available citizen media tools and social media platforms will also be used. Stories on different pertinent issues identified will be told & shared electronically using different forms of media to include text, visuals, audios and videos- to include awards all towards peaceful co-existence & sustainable development.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Gulu District, Acoli Sub Region in Northern Uganda
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
Bungatira Sub County in Gulu District of Acoli sub region in Northern Uganda; this proposal is based on the findings. While this community currently has got 10 computers, they are not well represented on on-line; Specifically we shall target a) Directly Affected: 12 month; and b) Indirectly Affected: approximately a population a total population of 29,700 in Bungatira Sub County in Gulu. Out of this population, approximately 5% are computer literate and familiar with the internet. With over 60% being out of school or school dropouts, we need to engage different community members while mindful of the different channels of communication that take care of the different literacy levels and age groups.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
Akello Latifah Monica
http://www.bosco-uganda.wikispaces.net/latifah.s+page
https://www.facebook.com/akello.latifah
Mugisha Fred Sunday
https://twitter.com/MugishaFred2012
http://bardege-ict-centre.bosco-uganda.wikispaces.net/Fred+Mugisha%27s+page
https://www.facebook.com/fred.mugisha?fref=ts
Both are from rural village of Bungatira in Northern Uganda. Together with these young people, we will work in close collaboration with the local leadership.
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Electronic poems, articles, photos, pictures, skits; audio/video recordings shall be shared on-line through different social media tools like YouTube, Sound Cloud, LinkedIn, Face book, Twitter, Word Press; inorder to contribute to building communities that are not dependent on handouts but embrace community ownership/participation more as a means to peaceful co-existence and sustainable community development. Issues to do with Gender Balance, Governance & Leadership, Land rights and other Human Rights will be targeted. Communities shall also exploit locally available resources to explore the internet as a communication channel. Basic Skills training on web 2.0, Office applications and life skills will be carried out as a basic foundation to enable content development and sharing.
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 been in touch with and serving these communities since 2009 in my capacity a project coordinator at my current Job with BOSCO-Uganda (www.boscouganda.com). There exist partnerships with the local leadership in the villages, different youth groups (Tam Pi Diki Child & Youth Support Organisation and Coope Youth), the sub county structure and the district authorities. There also exists a partnership with UNICEF, and University of Notre Dame-USA (Engineers Without Borders). Below are related links: -
www.youtube.com/watch?v=xji5bukNslQ
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yRT7SozBKSg
www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-7AzlVepcI
www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhmmZ
http://coope-information-centre.bosco-uganda.wikispaces.net/
http://www.bosco-uganda.wikispaces.net/Coope
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
12 per month to complete the web 2.0, office applications & Life Skills package that is 144 in one year; Participation is sustained through the Trainer of Trainers (Multiplication Effect). Certificate award is after the trainee/participant has trained at least one other and participated in content development/sharing. All trained will also be encouraged to join the Village Saving and Loan Scheme (VSLA) as a means of community/team building, and contributing to the welfare of the community at individual and group level. Community initiated VSLA projects have proven to be an effective community mobilization tool around useful pursuits. There is already a VSLA activity established and through this project (once approved) the VSLA project will be strengthened.
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
Social Networking and Blogging; to include Photography, Video editing, Program Management, Leadership, Monitoring, Evaluation, Mentoring, Development of Information, Education & Communication Messages (including pre-testing before approval), Needs Assessment approach to programming. Specifically focusing on technology, social networking (internet) is most friendly to the community especially the youth and acts as a learning aid. Tools like the digital camera, computers that form the interest of these groups will be used during the project to develop and share the content. Some links include: -
http://www.youtube.com/boscouganda
https://www.facebook.com/CommunitiesInActionShareYourConcern
www.linkedin.com/groups/Communities-In-Action-Share-Your-507101
http://soundcloud.com/sakiteng
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
The workshop will be held at Tam Pi Diki Child & Youth Support Organisation. The ICT Centre has got ADSL (Wifi), 11 computers and solar panels/battery backup. The Centre (semi permanent structure) is rented (one block with two rooms) and majorly run by out of school youth. It has got furniture, at least 4 functional Computer Trainer of Trainers/volunteers. The centre also has got two printers, a scanner and photocopier).
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 served the community in my capacity as Project Coordinator at BOSCO-Uganda since 2009-todate. I understand their needs given interactions with the community of the area; the reason for me being the appropriate individual to implement this project. I have also had the opportunity to identify potential young leaders/managers from the area; and I got a strong passion to continue following up and mentoring such young potential resource persons. This motivation demonstrates a long term commitment and plan to work with the community. Inaddition, I learnt about community groups like Tam Pi Diki Child & Youth Support Organisation in 2008 before I joined my current Job and I have since been following them up; fortunately later qualifying as BOSCO-Uganda partner.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
Expectation of handouts like allowances to perform or deliver a service by the community especially Local leaders. This will be overcome by consistent awareness creation on the dangers of handouts on development (i.e. threat to sustainable community development). Concrete examples will also be sited. This will be done in collaboration with key resource persons identified from within the community.
Unstable internet from service providers, and low power due to bad weather affecting the solar/battery backups. This will be overcome by performing duties (data gathering) that do not require internet and power at the time. This would also saving time when it comes uploading at the time the power and internet is available. Alternative internet sources like modems will also be improvised backup.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
*Atleast 144 community members trained in basic Web 2.0, Office Applications & Life Skills in 12 months
*At least 100 different content messages developed and shared on-line by the community in 12 months
*Atleast 40 Testimonies (following ICT Training and VSLA) from community in relation to behavioral change and improved livelihoods at individual and community level vs. Peaceful co-existence and sustainable development to include attitude change regarding handouts vs. community participation & ownership; in 12 months
* A write up on personal experience
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
Timeline for Project Activities is 12 Months (May 2014 to April 2015); Tasks and activities to be implemented are: -
*Community Mobilisation & Sensitisation
*Basic ICT Training (initial)
*Trainers of Trainers ICT Skills training (Follow up)
*Identification of controversial issues
*Identification of talents and skills
*Content development (including review and approval)
*Content on-line sharing; Forum Discussions
*Village Saving & Loan Scheme
*Monitoring & Evaluation
*Certificate Award
*A write up on personal experience
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
*Business Start-up award for Akello Latifah & Mugisha Fred Sunday – $800
*Contribution to group VSLA – $600
*Coordination, Monitoring & Evaluation & Production of a write up on personal experience – $1000
NB: Please note other workshop costs and equipment/materials are a contribution by the community.
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Networking opportunities; relevant technical support as need arises.
Contact name
Akiteng Stella
