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2008 > West Bank: 3-Week NGO Workshop – MEPI

West Bank : 3-Week NGO Workshop – Creative Associates International / Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)

Student Video Projects

Course Description

From October 14th - November 3rd, 2008, Barefoot Workshops led a three-week program entitled "Media, Activism and Democracy," teaching participants from seven civil society organizations in the West Bank, how to write, shoot, produce, and edit, Public Service Announcements, to raise awareness about issues of public concern.

Twelve PSAs were produced on such topics as: labor law, honor killings, Palestinian land rights, community betterment, political unity between parties, gender relations, volunteerism and youth empowerment.

Participating organizations included: Combatants for Peace, Women's Affairs Technical Committee (WATC), The Palestinian Center for Rapprochement between People (PCR), Palestine Conflict Resolution Center "Wi'am", The Palestinian Working Woman Society for Development (PWWSD), International Palestinian Youth League (IPYL), and International Peace and Cooperation Center (IPCC).

The program was supported by The United States Government Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI), and Creative Associates. International.

The aim of the workshop was to foster greater civic participation, activism, and debate in the region of the Middle East by teaching civil society organizations how to create messages that can improve their societies from within.

At the conclusion of the training, Barefoot Workshops produced a private screening and panel discussion with distinguished guests, at the Bethlehem Peace Center in Manger Square, which was well attended by the local and international media.

Content is being distributed through regional television networks, Internet and mobile platforms, as well as through social networking tools, such as Facebook and YouTube, to reach diverse audiences.

Participating organizations each received a full equipment package, including high definition video cameras, laptops, and Adobe Creative Suite, to continue producing broadcast-quality content.

PSAs are available upon request in English and Arabic, to broadcasters and organizations who wish to distribute them "rights-free." Please contact: info@barefootworkshops.org for more information.