Communities around Kafanchan continue to be targets of ethnic/ religious conflicts that has destroyed lives and homes since 2011. Several Government-sponsored efforts do not seem to be achieving the desired results. The main perpetrators of the violence are armed youths on opposing sides while the bulk of the consequences are borne by women who have to look after the wounded, the dying and cope with the loss of loved ones. So far, there is no systematic video documentation that captures the stories of the women on both sides, who are bear the brunt of the violence
Topical focus:
Country:
What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?
Kafanchan
Describe the specific population with whom you will be working.
Our organization, Fantsuam Foundation, provides microfinance services and other rural community development opportunities to all persons, irrespective of their ethnic or religious affiliation in the target communities. With little or no grid, available communication is largely through mobile phones, and this has been effectively used by many youths to stay informed about their communities. With the phone, many youths have facebook accounts and are able to access other social media and use these to keep their urban and diaspora friends and families updated. Given the rich oral culture of these communities, short video documentaries will be more accessible and culturally relevant to support peace initiatives in these communities. These will be used to promote women's peace efforts
Who else will be on your team to help implement the project?
Theresa Tafida, facebook, Theresa Tafida
Pam Mclean, @Pamela_McLean
Nicola Fishman @DadamacN
Mercy Dogary
Comfort Kazanka
What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?
Video clips of women, from different religions and tribes, in action on peace missions to neighbouring villages, to refugee camps, markets, schools and places of worship. Such videos will be powerful testimony of the efforts of women to sustain peaceful co-existence in their communities
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.
In each of the participating communities, there is a Community Development Association. It often comprise of urban – based elites. Their support for this project will enhance its sustainability. These partnerships are home-grown and Fantsuam Foundation has engaged with some of them in the past, for different development programs
How many participants do you think will be trained in your project?
The project will aim at training two youths (one make, one female) from 5 affected communities. In addition, these youths will be required to work with 6 women from each of their communities. The total number of participants will be 10 youths + 30 women
Describe which technologies, tools, and media you will focus on when training participants.
The project manager has 5 years experience of digital camera and video use. Fantsuam Foundation Academy provides training in basic digital camera and video skills in one of its diploma courses, so there is a pool of users and enthusiasts who would bring their skills and innovation to this project.
There is a rich oral culture in the host community, and with the low level of literacy, visual and oral presentations will be more technically relevant.
Describe the facilities where you will hold the workshops.
The Fantsuam Academy computer laboratory hosts 12 low-powered inveneo computers, 1 MacBook Pro and 1 MacBook Air. Internet connection is currently via USB Modems. The training space can take 15 users at a time. Grid power is limited so a back up of solar and diesel generator power is often needed to ensure internet access. The organization is currently negotiating to install K-Band access facility within the next 2 months
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?
Fantsuam Foundation lives and has been working with the affected communities since it was established in 1996 providing an integrated suit of development programs. Many of the people affected by the ongoing sectarian crisis are beneficiaries and clients of the organization. We have undertaken advocacy on behalf of these communities on various issues including the peace keeping and peace building efforts
What specific challenges do you expect to face when planning and implementing your project?
The objective of the project must be clearly explained to all the participants. The loss of mutual trust between the communities may make some women reluctant to tell their stories; some vested interests may feel threatened by the exercise. Fantsuam will continue to facilitate rebuilding community cohesion through supply of increased relief materials to all affected persons. Early adopters of technology will be identified form all the communities and help them to own the project from inception. This will help to ensure safety and security for all participants
How will you measure and evaluate the project’s impact, specifically: your primary participants, the wider regional community, or the global digital community?
Our impact indicators include: the number of women who offer to be on the project; the number of different communities that sign up; the number of community, women and youth leaders who are willing to take the project across to their communities; the number of youths enrolled in the video and camera skills training. In addition to the technical skills training, the youths will be provided Civic Training in Non Violent Conflict Resolution. The emphasis of the impact measurement is therefore on the numbers of persons who get engaged in the project from its inception
If your project were to be selected as a Rising Voices grantee, what would be the general timeline of project activities in 2014?
ACTIVITIES TIMELINE
Detail a specific budget of up to $2,500 USD for operating costs.
EQUIPMENT PURCHASE
Camcorder with Built In Projector $600
Digital Compact Camera, Optical Zoom $400
Shock Resistance Portable External Hard Drive $200
ADVOCACY MEETINGS: Local transport and refreshments
Community leaders $100
Women Leaders $50
Youth leaders $50
SELECTION OF PARTICIPANTS
Secretarial support $100
Training:Local transport and refreshments
Civic duties $100
Technical skills of camera $200
RESOURCE PERSONS
Advocacy $50
Civic duties $50
Technical skills $100
UTILITIES
Internet access $300
Diesel for generator $200
TOTAL $2,500
Besides the microgrant funding, what other support can Rising Voices provide for your project to ensure its success?
Rising Voices can help
1. link Fantsuam to organizations that support psychosocial and trauma counselling services to victims of sectarian violence.
2. Linkage to networks that have developed resources on the use of ICTs for conflict resolution and peace building will also be helpful
Contact name
John Dada
Organization
Fantsuam Foundation