Media for MDGs: Difference between revisions

The two volunteer youth leaders who have been recruited by the organization to act as media trainers as part of the project-namely Ivan Charalambous and Jacob Ketuma- participated in a series of trainings along with youth leaders from Poland and Czech Republic in order to acquire the skills needed to conduct the media program at schools. The first training took place in Torino in July 2010, and focused on the technical aspect of preparing media materials for Development issues. In August 2010, each one of the youth leaders travelled to a developing country, in order to acquire hands-on experience in making a documentary under the supervision of experienced European and local trainers. Ivan Charalambous travelled to Kenya as part of the project, and Jacob Ketuma travelled to Peru. Both Ivan and Jacob tried to capture the lives of the disadvantaged population in those regions, and their efforts to achieve a better standard of living, and achieve development. A third training took place in Crakow in September 2010, where youth leaders from all three participating countries gathered together, and were trained on how to edit their work, as well as on how to actually conduct the media program in the schools selected in each country. All trainings have been organized by the lead organization Salesian Missionary and Voluntary Service in Crakow

===One year media program in high schools===

A media program has been implemented at four schools in Cyprus during the school year 2010 -2011. Participating schools have been: Olympion, Private High School in Paliometocho (District of Nicosia), Ayios Ioannis Lyceum, in Limassol, International School of Paphos in Paphos, and American Academy in Nicosia. The media program included interactive weekly sessions during which students along with their trainers  acquired knowledge and skills on the MDGs as well as on the technical aspect of making videos and audios. Students along with their trainers explored thematics and issues relating to the MDGs on the local level and set out to prepare media materials, in order to portray those issues, and raise awareness among the public. In total on audio and 10 videos have been made by the 25 students who participated in the media program.The materials revolve around the issues of Gender Equality, Migration, Environmental Sustainability, Active Citizenship and Global Trade as they are experienced in Cyprus. All materials are available on the project’s website www.youth4world.com

===National workshops===

The first national workshop took place in 8-10 April 2010, at Rodon hotel in Agros, bringing together students from two of the participating schools: Olympion Private High School in Paliometocho, and Ayios Ioannis Lyceum in Limassol. The workshop has been an opportunity for students to view footage of each other’s work, exchange opinions, and learn how to enhance their work in a collaborative atmosphere. It has helped students get better grasp of what they would like to convey to the public through their videos, and acquire tools to better structure their videos.

Two more workshops took place in May and June 2011, during which students from the rest of the participating schools-namely American Academy, Nicosia, and International School of Paphos worked on their materials, and started editing their work with the help of their trainers.

 

 

A media summer camp was implemented at Forest Park hotel in Platres from 4 to 7 July 2011 with the participation of the students who prepared materials on Development issues, as part of the school media trainings. Scope of the workshop was to provide the participants with skills and knowledge on Advocacy and Campaigning, so that they would be in position to implement the media campaign and distribute their work. Participating students learnt how to use different new media in order to campaign and further promote their work. They also got tips on how to collaborate with the media, and talk about their work to the media. Students, teachers and trainers got the chance to watch the final materials, and celebrate their achievements. 

 

An online film competition was implemented from 7-17 November 2011 in which the videos that the participating students created during the projects were placed for voting. In total 10 videos took part in the competition namely: ‘’In the name of the father’’, ‘’Desertification in Cyprus’’, ‘’Gender Talk’’, ‘’Gender wars’’, ‘’Migrant workers’’, ‘’Foreigners’’, ‘’Protests’’, ‘’Unfair Trade’’, ‘’Gender Discrimination’’, ‘’Forest Fairy’’. The films were placed on the competition platform http://ekkotek.com/national-competition/ which has been created especially for the national competition in Cyprus. Winning film has been declared the film ‘’In the name of the Father’’ made by students of Olympion Private School in Paliometocho, which uncovers the gender dimension in the context of family violence. The competition has been advertised through social media and was widely attended by students and young people. The results of the competition are available on http://ekkotek.com/national-competition/ 

In November 2011, the coordinator a member of the winning team of the online competition, namely Stylianos Stylianou, his teacher Maria Papoula and trainer Ivan Charalambous, participated in the Global Education Week, in which the lead organization Salesian Missionary and Voluntary Service had an active role. During the event the winners of all three national competitions came together to showcase their work, and celebrate their achievements. The event was attended by media professionals, NGO members, and students who participated in the media program that took place in the framework of the project. It has also been an excellent opportunity for networking and establishment of collaborations on European level.

 

===Media campaign===

A media campaign has been implemented by FWC in collaboration with schools, media professionals, and with the active involvement of the students taking part in the project to raise awareness about the global interdependencies, and bring to the fore the local dimension of the MDGs. During media campaign the media materials produced by the students, and youth leaders during the project were used as tools to take those ideas further, and raise awareness among the public. The online competition which had been scheduled to take place from 7th to 17th November was an excellent opportunity for the media campaign’s kick off. A promotional video was made in collaboration with Cyprus Community Media Center, which was presented in the media to give an overview of the students’ work in the media. The coordinator, student, and trainers were hosted in various shows on TV, and the radio to talk about their work and invite people to join the discussion on global issues and the MDGs. The project also gained visibility in the print media. The media campaign is still in progress. The World Day  for Social Justice which is celebrated on 20th February also served as a great opportunity for getting the work on the media.  

===Informational campaign for teachers===

Through media campaign,and other actions taken in the participating schools teachers have been informed about the possibility to visit the website, view the students’ media materials, and possibly incorporate them in their teaching.

The website of the project www.youth4world.com also constitutes a space where teachers can learn more about the MDGs, and find interesting information that they can use in class. The e-learning course- available on this platform- can guide teachers and students through MDGs and Media Education.