Ndugu Mdogo Boys Learn to Operate the Video Camera
Kibera--- Thirteen boys from Ndugu Mdogo Rescue Centre have been selected to attend a two weeks workshop which commenced on Wednesday November 2 to sharpen their knowledge in camera operations and storytelling. The boys are trained to narrate their stories, constructed from photographs and video material.
This initiative is conducted by Icebreaker Productions, a Finnish cooperative for media productions in collaboration with koinonia community. Icebreaker Productions targets to build bridges between Finland and other countries in addition to give a voice to the marginalized in the societies.
Known as DigiTales Workshops, the underlying theme is Story Yangu ya Kibera Swahili for My Story of Kibera. The target group is former Street boys from Kibera aged between 10-16 who are now, actively participating in video recording, taking pictures as well as interviewing each other with the aim of telling their story about street life.
By the end of the two week training sessions, an immortalized gallery of the children’s stories expressed through pictures and short videos will be screening as well as printed for public display at a Red Carpet Event in Shalom House on December 10 2011. The event will be graced by dignitaries and members of the community.
Marita Rainbird, the Director of this project said, “The first workshop was successful and I was surprised by the enthusiasm from the children to learn and they were quite ready to deal with sensitive issues of their past”, says Rainbird.“My hopes are very high that we can get touching stories during this 2 weeks of intensive training,”she added.
The purpose of the project is also to develop the former street children’s self-esteem and understanding of the world in a creative way. Through the DigiTales the aim of the workshops is to bring joy and creativity to learning as well as to give empowering tools to people working with vulnerable children.
Rainbird was in charge of an EU funded Mundo project (media education and work training project for immigrant media professionals) in Finnish Broadcasting Company YLE. As a result of the international cooperation Mundo launched a digital storytelling method in Finland. Consequently, in 2009 Marita tested the storytelling method with AIDS orphans in Zimbabwe. The DigiTales method has been used in a Roma children’s project of Vantaa City in 2011. The aim of the workshops was to give a voice to Roma children and strengthen their identity. The method was also tested in Buenos Aires in 2011. The workshops were arranged in Villa Carcova slum together with local MundoMejor organization.