| DATES: |
November 19th – December 16th, 2006
|
Want to make a difference in sub-Saharan Africa?
FACT:
In sub-Saharan Africa there are over 12 million children who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS alone.
SOLUTION:
Take a workshop with Barefoot and make a difference in the world by using your knowledge with DV technology. Create skills that will allow you to continue making positive change anywhere and everywhere.
This class is structured for individuals who are interested in mixing travel, social activism, and documentary filmmaking into one amazing month in Cape Town, South Africa. The workshop is set up for the adventurers who feel the pull to use their skills to contribute to a grassroots non-profit organization (NGO) in sub-Saharan Africa. Students should have some experience with video and editing.
What is an NGO?
The World Bank defines NGOs as "private organizations that pursue activities to relieve suffering, promote the interests of the poor, protect the environment, provide basic social services, or undertake community development" (Operational Directive 14.70). In a wider usage, the term NGO can be applied to any non-profit organization which is independent from government. NGOs are typically value-based organizations which depend, in whole or in part, on charitable donations and voluntary service. Although the NGO sector has become increasingly professionalized over the last two decades, principles of altruism and voluntarism remain key defining characteristics.
NGOs will be posted on this website and Barefoot students will have the opportunity to choose the right project. 2 students will be matched with one NGO. Barefoot will post the NGO and student matches so that there is no confusion. Students are encouraged to do as much research and development as possible before going to Cape Town.
Possible topics: HIV/AIDS, agriculture, malaria, orphans, building sustainable communities.
This class is not set up for people who wish to simply shoot video in Africa. Barefoot has a very specific goal, which is to teach individuals how to work with NGOs and then shift the role by making the student the teacher. You will learn what is meant by “participatory video”. Individuals will leave Africa as a Barefoot student and a Barefoot teacher. Barefoot’s goal is to create responsible filmmakers who care about the world around them and who make it a point to give back to the people they work with. The point is to learn the skills and then quickly pass on that knowledge so that the NGO can do the same thing once the workshop ends.
BAREFOOT LAPTOP INITIATIVE (BLI)
Tekserve, New York City’s premiere Apple specialist, has partnered with Barefoot. They will be helping Barefoot collect used laptops that will be serviced and given to the NGOs who participate in the workshop. This will allow the NGOs to have their own way to edit once the workshop ends.
COURSE STRUCTURE
Week 1 - Students will review equipment, learn about the NGOs in the area, decide on an NGO to work with, and develop a structure/script for their video needs.
Week 2 - Shoot & write with the NGO
Week 3 - Shoot / Edit
Week 4 - Edit. Develop longterm video goals with NGO
* Students who enroll in this workshop will get a 35% discount on Barefoot’s Experiencing the Mississippi Delta workshop which runs in February 2007. The two workshops are structured to address different environments and issues. They are two completely different experiences.
* Please email for more information. Course description is subject to change.
CONTACTS/WEBSITES/RESEARCH
Apple support in Cape Town:
http://www.project3.co.za/
NGO’s in Cape Town:
http://www.capetown.at/NGOs/intro.htm