DeafNET is a world class network of knowledge and expertise in the interest of people who experience deafness and related communication barriers on the continent of Africa. We will train deaf people to tell their own story’s by means of utilizing there video function on their mobile phones or other video facility’s to their disposal. Techniques like subtitling & narration will be taught to empower them with video as a means of communication across the Deaf boundaries. Those who are deaf, who were not able to write, can now also communicate/express themselves with video.
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Worcester, Western Cape
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
The specific population we will be working with is the Deaf community in Africa. “How can one work in multimedia environment without hearing sounds? ” DeafNET have seen many Deaf individuals excel in Multimedia and Fine Arts. Many more Deaf are becoming aware of this and the integration thereof with technology. This technology is usually seen by the hearing world as merely improvements in communication. To the Deaf society this has a whole different meaning. It’s a whole new world of boldness & confidence to communicate. The majority of previous generation Deaf has difficulty in expressing themselves in written words. With video technology they can now also communicate. Video can be used instead of traditional administrative communication and will empower the Deaf like never before.
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
www.deafnet.org
www.lj7advertising.co.za
www.funkidesigns.com
www.fishgate.co.za
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
In line with the UNCPRD, stories relating to education, access to health and employment ext. will act as a voice to the deaf communities on the continent of Africa. The knowledge of specifically video production will create an opportunity for Deaf individuals to tell their life stories. Ultimately giving voice to the deaf.
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.
DeafNET has set up a multimedia department that consists of all expertise & facilities needed to address the deaf society’s media needs. The coordinator of the media department has a diploma in Film & Television Production and has researched, develop and simplified a module that will empower Deaf. The initial intellectual property and training material were supplied by an advertising agency, www.lj7advertising.co.za , as part of their social responsibility. Other partners like http://www.funkidesigns.com, also a member of the South African Gould of Editors (SAGE), will assist us with training and further development of the “Social Media Communication Academy” initiative.
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
Our aim is to establish an ongoing project, that continually adds knowledge & skills to our beneficiaries on the continent of Africa. The volunteer network of DeafNET will be used as a vehicle in delivering services to Deaf communities in Africa. DeafNET has been established in 38 countries on the continent of Africa with well established partnerships with the National Association of the Deaf in each of these 38 countries. By applying the train the trainer model, we want to facilitate the “Social Media Communication Academy” initiative with as large audience as possible. The following number of people will be trained:
• Eight (8) members from the ACGMHD Advisory Committee
• Thirty eight (38) members from National Associations for the Deaf
• Fourty (40) Deaf Youth
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
Training in mobile phone video or camcorder video production as a means of Deaf communication will take place through DeafNET's media department. Optimization of mobile phone usage for video production training is a key element of our initiative. Through this we make story telling accessible to our beneficiaries. Our “Social Media Communication Academy” has packaged modules that familiarize the student with the holistic process, Pre, Pro and Post-Production of film making. We have in office-expertise in Film & Television Production. The training material were supplied by, www.lj7advertising.co.za , as part of their social responsibility. Other partners like http://www.funkidesigns.com, as members of South African Gould of Editors (SAGE) and www.fishgate.co.za will assist us with training
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
DeafNET’s head office is based in Worcester, South Africa at 30 De la Bat Road, William Murray Building, Worcester. Our office has a multi-media division which is equipped with training centre with a range of film studio facilities that we have access to
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?
DeafNET is established in 38 countries in Africa. Our multi-media training center proof services to the Deaf:
• Multi-media training to DRC & Mauritius; SL DVD’s for Burundi, DRC, Gambia, Mauritania, Senegal, SA & HIV/AIDS
• SL Posters: Basic SA SL; Medical; IEC SA; Hospitality; Bible books; HIV/AIDS, etc
DeafNET’s objectives are to :
• Particularize, exchange & disseminate knowledge & expertise on issues relating to persons who experience hearing loss & related communication barriers.
• Empower the Deaf, their families & their communities through research & training.
• Promote the improvement of health, well-being & quality in all domains of life of persons with hearing loss & their families through accessible, available, affordable & appropriate services, training & media.
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
DeafNET’s “Social Media Communication Academy” are in need of dedicated mobile equipment for training & facilitation of our modules. A laptop & projector with a screen will allow us to be flexible in our training processes. Our beneficiaries are spread over the continent of Africa. Whenever we get an invitation for training in another country, we need to borrow equipment from other projects to accomplish our training process. If “Social Media Communication Academy” could have their own equipment it will ensure better service to our clients.
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
Primary participants monitoring & evaluation:
*Basic visual questionnaire to evaluate if learning objectives has been achieved
*Practical assignment to evaluate students
*Follow-up individual sessions with participants to monitor progress
*Monthly feedback reports from participants on implementation of learning
*Feedback report to sponsor
Wider regional community
*Survey on impact on Deaf community/ exposure & learning as per identified National Associations of the Deaf on the continent
*Monitoring of responses on social media
*Monthly reports from reps on individual sessions & implementation
*Local media response
Global digital community
*Views on youtube & other social media platforms
* Survey on website
DeafNET’s head office will facilitate the monitoring & evaluation
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
DeafNET want to have their Anchor team as the ACGMHD trained as facilitators on the continent of Africa by end of August 2014. As soon as this is in place, the trainers can start with empowering of their own communities in North, West, Central, East, Southern Africa & the Indian Ocean Islands. The first “Social Media Communication Academy” based on our train the trainer model will be taking place on the 01 November 2014. Training time will depend on access to facilities & conditions within the different countries. The train the trainer model allows for a snowball effect where students enrolling for free, but agree to share the skills & knowledge learned, with others. DeafNET will expect at least one “Social Media Communication Academy” to be facilitated & reported on per month. All our bench marks are subjected to access to facilities & conditions within third world countries.
*Training train the trainers by 31/8/14
* Training 1st group by 30/9/14
* Training 2nd group by 14/11/14
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
“Social Media Communication Academy” Equipment:
Laptop $1200
Projector & Screen $800
Video Soft Wear $ 500
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
We would like to make Search Engine Optimization (SEO) training part of our training modules. These will add value to our “Social Media Communication Academy” initiative. Rising Voices can assist DeafNET in this matter
Contact name
Suzette Willemse
Organization
DeafNET Centre of Knowledge