WENT Africa 2007

Mon, 08 Oct 2007 10:29:08 GMT

Hi Everyone:

It's so great to read all the recent posts. And Judy, yours was great! I totally agree with everything. I hope your story worked out. I imagine by now, Petros has found a new love. Talent, don't feel lonely, and no you didn't scare me away :) I hope you are all doing well in your individual roles and lives. The Went experience seems like a distant memory but certainly not forgotten.

I'm off to Liberia this week, where Isis-WICCE will hold a training programme on peace building, conflict resolution and human rights for 44 international women human rights activists. So I thought this would be an excellent opportunity to develop a digital story to cover the event, as we don't currently anything that documents the women's experiences. Long story short, I visited our blog for inspiration and ideas.

Today is a Thanksgiving holiday in Canada, and I kind of wish I was home enjoying a wonderful meal with my family and friends. But I'm very much thankful for the opportunity I have here.

Robyn

Connecting...

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 09:40:23 GMT

Hey guys.

I was the last to post an entry about three weeks ago...and I don't hear those voices anymore.
Are you OK? Or did I scare you...?

Pliz lets reconnect...

I miss yuh all!

Talent

Confessions...& learnings...

Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:12:07 GMT

I have always been a haphazard person, full of escapism. If I worked on a document halfway, I’d quickly switch to another…and so, by day end, I wouldn’t have much to celebrate. I’d have two incomplete pieces of work, and then the next day, my to-do list would look longer. This doesn’t feed one’s soul. In fact it can be quite depressing.

Learnings

One concept (which wasn’t necessarily on the agenda) that I learnt during the workshop is that muilti-skilling doesn’t necessarily increase our efficiency. Of course, as women we were raised to multiskill…to phone the plumber (mobile phone supported by shoulder), & feed the baby while you mind the pot, and also watch over the two toddlers playing in the garden, and your rollers are still on, while the clothes are soaking because in an hour’s time you have to hang them dry, before the visitors arrive for lunch!

And then it was Sally’s gentle reminders, to ‘…work on your movies guys, and only your movie. No goggling and replying to emails in between…or else…(then she laughs)’ that has changed me.
& Sally if you had not said this... One movie would probably have lasted only 76 seconds - :)

Focus + Discipline. This is a principle that I’ve learnt to abide by, and I think it works better. There is so much joy & satisfaction in focusing on a piece of work (however taxing) and getting through with it, and then ticking your to do list, and giving yourself an incentive of completion, refreshing, and then moving on to the next item.

Yes…I agree with Caren…blogging is quite fun and even interests me more than emailing & Ccing. It is an open space…a free space that is more inclusive. Somehow, I continue to feel everybody’s presence in my life / or is it in my head?

Talent

i feel the spirit

Wed, 05 Sep 2007 14:18:47 GMT

Oh yes i feel it.There's absolute excitement in the air. All this blogging biz.Its so so much fun. More fun than emailing i suppose.

Talent whats all that about labour pains and smiles................Really you have a way of grabbing attention. I kept reading...you know...wondering...hmmmm.... where are we headed? And well...you got me Talent.You have a talent with words my dear.

Judy, Eunice and i have been talking on phone and i feel really really blessed to have met such friends.

I must say everyone of you guys that i met has something unique about you that is worth appreciating. I have to say it was a priviledge to meet women of such levels of inteligence- women who were ready to open up and mouth their innermost fears.

Congratulations everyone. It took a lot of courage for me to speak up and from what i saw and heard, it wasnt easy on your part either.

Sally, Jan, Nicole, Jenny, i'm sure it calls for patience to teach grown ups this or that. I want to say thank you so much. I have always looked at adobe photoshop as "greek" and so i have never bothered to even touch it! But you guys made it so so easy. I'm so proud of myself. Thank you. I am well equpped! For all i know........eh....or so i think..i ....i can do my own graphics from what i learnt. Huh? Say what? HA HA- Ookeeeeeeyyyy!

KUDOS! Blessings

Posted by Caren

Back to Nairobi city

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 17:12:09 GMT

I have just read Robyn's mail, and I am in stitches.........yes! my love Petros, read your mails ladies, there is more dossier.

I am back to my work station, AWC, Nairobi, and I suddenly miss you all. I miss the days we would sit on the computers, all focused on our stories, until Jenny and Sally would constantly try to chase us out!

We had a lovely group, Tatiana-Crazy, but a wonderful free spirit, you made me laugh Taty! I am still waiting for the links you promised to give.
Robyn Naylor- I have probably told you this before, if I were to be in one room with you, we would laugh until our bones crack, I enjoyed every minute with you.
Eunice, the voice of reason, I still long for the nights we would sit in my room, you giving us advices way past midnight....I am glad I met you.
Caren, the timing was just perfect for us to meet again, you are funny and your company is enjoyable........I am definitely going to make sure I meet you more often, I mean we come from the same country, you too Eunice, and It would be a shame if we kept our distance.

Assetou Diarra, I will not forget our communication breakdown, and we both laughed at it like a big joke, but gal, I challenged, and I must go for french classes, and next time, I will be your translator.
Bambi, I like your name, and when are you sending me an invoice for featuring in my movie? .........the future has alot to offer for us, you, me... you are such a blessing to all the young girls in your country and women in general, I was honored to have shared in your story.
Linda...my dear Linda. I hope you open up a little to the world, there are a few wonderful people like us still existing, and we all love you!
Sally, I probably asked you this- but once more, do you ever get annoyed? I want be a trainer like you, any day anytime........gal you have a big heart....
Elisabeth, I hope you have learnt lots of Amharik coz I coming soon to Ethiopia, and you must teach me. You taught me one thing, to look beyond the surface. I enjoyed every minute with you my neighbor, and yes, I will continue giving you sweets!
Ingrid, ohh! girl, hope the smile on your face continues to shine and touch the hearts of those you meet.
Rosemary, Uganda is not far, you can come pay us a visit, It was indeed a great pleasure to meet you.
Talent, I would give anything just to sit and listen to stories about Zim.............and don't worry things will get better such that you do not have to do your whole shopping elsewhere!
Silvie, I have just promised Assetou that I will be translating for her next time, so your work will be lessened..........and I want to come to Congo!
Jan, I hope your bum has healed...........gal that was a thorough landing! I really appreciate the way you guys did the training, be sure I am going to replicate everything in my work.
Jenny- I still laugh at the way you were trying to hold your breath while taking pictures, lol! can you all come to Kenya next time?It would be nice to walk with the whole crowd on Nairobi streets.
Finally Nicole, you are just lovely, and I am so looking forward to meeting you again some day soon.

I must say the training was a great experience for me. I have learnt a new skill and I am bragging to everyone- whether or not they want to listen, lol!

I am hoping to send each and everyone DVD's of some short movies I am soon to make. Thank you APC for the opportunity you gave me.

And to every woman I met, thanks a bunch, I am so honored and blessed to have shared in your stories, pain, tears and laughters.

Thanks to you all

Akelle

celebration....

Mon, 03 Sep 2007 10:40:57 GMT

I have never experienced the ‘joys’ or ‘sorrows’ of giving birth, but I continuously hear women who have had that opportunity say labour pains can be really excruciating…yet on all the occasions I have visited new mothers either in hospital or at home, I have been met with smiles…and only smiles.

Such was my experience during and after the Digital Story Telling Workshop. I was extremely exhausted after 4 days of hard work, yet my heart continued to smile…because finally, I had emptied the anger I had kept bottled for so long (through storytelling & in a safe space). The fact that I came out of the workshop with; something tangible (the DVD), and the skills and knowledge that no one can rob me of… brings so much satisfaction, and I continue to celebrate. Thanks to the facilitation team for the support!!

Posted by
Talent

Refelctions

Sat, 01 Sep 2007 08:12:22 GMT

I am home again, and have to come to post my last reflections on an amazing 5 days of learning and sharing:

We look different, sound different, speak different languages, live different lives, but we are all the same. We have the same experience of being media professionals, who are at the same time women who have dealt with violence. We are people. We have one story and it is of the triumph of spirit.
What we are silent about, what we cover up and leave unspoken, festers, like a covered sore. Speaking and telling, in that process, takes the sting away, erupts the volcano beneath, and it has no power left.
I came home freer. Like Bambi said, the heaviness is gone, there is a lightness about no longer keeping the silence.
Technology is a tool - something used for a purpose. It is always about the people, the connection with others, the shared story. People are always at the centre of technology.
Like in life, we must cry a little, dance a little, laugh a lot. Thats what these 5 days have meant to me.

I would like to thank the organisers for this life-changing workshop. Let it be multiplied a hundredfold. Lets all tell our stories.

Thanks and love

Ingrid

Final night count down

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 20:38:08 GMT

I have been trying to post this entry for the last few hours and yes, finally i throw in the towel.
i will pour my hear out here for now, asta la vista, c'est la vie.. i be dancing with fellow participants.

Elizabeth

Digital Story Telling a Success

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 19:55:07 GMT

Twelve women today completed a five days workshop on “Digital Story Telling” organized by APC-Africa-Women, in partnership with Women'sNet.

The workshop brought together participants from different countries who develop stories reflecting their past experience on violence.

The programme created an opportunity for participants to express themselves using picture to tell their stories.

This has been the first time for many but successful.

“ We learnt a lot as trainers and it was very impressive seeing the commitment and passion in the participants to tell their story” said Jenny Radloff Coordinator of APC-Africa-Women. Jenny believed this was a good methodology since we cannot have technology without personal and political commitment. She look forward to seeing participants become trainers.

According to Judith Akelle Waguma a participant, the digital story telling was a new concept that was quiet interesting. Judith who is a TV producer said she never knew how to make a movie with pictures. “It was so exciting” she added.

Tatiana Well also a participant from Brazil who has never worked on video editing before thought it was very difficult but was surprised to have made a movie from a digital camera instead of a video camera. “I cannot wait to impart the knowledge I gain from this” she said

Technology can be fascinating but frustrating for Sally a trainer who was very instrumental. She believed everybody should empowered themselves with technology.

The most important of all this was that everybody got the opportunity to tell a story and learnt how to use the technology. It was great to have been part of it.

By Bambi

IT 4 Change

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 16:45:58 GMT

For centuries across the breast of the earth, man has tried to change things to suit him. From the Stone Age to the middle and now to the computer or information era we all have a role to make the world a better place for us and generations yet unborn.

I would not do justice to my goodself if I don’t express in these few lines how the workshop has healed my heart. I have always tried to put my experience of (arranged/forced) marriage behind me but I it continued to hunt my mind and it makes me so depressed. Today I feel so happy, free and different.

I never knew technology could be so useful to transform ones life until after the 5days workshop on “Digital Story Telling”. Seriously there was more to this than just telling a story.

By Bambi

Finally

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 10:47:43 GMT

Well, It is the final day of the training and just a few minutes back the power was acting up. But now its back and so i can write

I am glad I am here, I have learnt sooooooooo much and had fun doing it too.

Not sure just yet how good the story is though, just hoping its great.

Last Day!

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:26:28 GMT

Its the last stretch to finish our movies. Jan and Jenny are working on the Digital Story about the workshop, Nicolle is finding music, Sylvie is interviewing Assouto and im blogging! Once im done blogging, im going to be re-sizing pics for our Digital Story about the workshop - we are hoping to have this done for everyone to see (at least a draft!) when we do our screening.

I think everyone is eager to go home now, and eager to finish. Some are wrestling with their transitions, others with sound and music levels. We are adding the titles of our movies and ending credits. I am so looking forward to our screening!

wish us luck!

sally

Almost there...

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 09:21:55 GMT

So is this how great digital storytellers get their start? After a couple days, hunched over I think we're all almost there. Actually we have to be there considering this is our last day. The last few days have been wonderful. We've bonded as a group and unleashed our creativity day and night. When we started the workshop, I was eager to see what the end results would be, and how the stories would unfold digitally. With a couple of sneak peaks, I think we will all be amazed by what has been accomplished in just a short time.

Thanks again to Jenny, Sally, Jan, Nicole and Sylvie for your patience and seeing us through to completion.

by Robyn

Talking transitions...

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:25:41 GMT

Yesterday, i tackled transitions...

How do you move from one frame to another?
Sometimes smoothly, gently, with no jarring movements.
Sometimes you need that jarring wrench from one frame to another.

Hmmm!!

Sally uses headphones!

Wed, 29 Aug 2007 07:07:19 GMT

Sally was seen hunched over a computer listening to a story!

Posted By
Jenny

second to last day

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 17:06:40 GMT

The pressure is on! Everyone is glued to their computer, focussed and single minded. We putting our movies together today, inserting transitions, music and adding effects. Judy co-opted three actresses to help her take pictures, Tati has been taking pictures of just about everything, it seems. Ingrid has lovely old pics of her grandmother and mother which she has been working with. Eunice is looking for wild cats, and ive been searching for music (free music is hard to find!)

It's appropriate that it's a full moon - I think it goes nicely with the creative process!

Sally

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 16:51:17 GMT

hey girrrrls

here you can find a litle bit of another history, the history of free software, a beautiful and challenging appropriation as powerful as the one we have being trhough these days.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Free_software
http://www.gnu.org/philosophy/

"Free software is a matter of liberty, not price. To understand the concept, you should think of free as in free speech, not as in free beer. Free software is a matter of the users' freedom to run, copy, distribute, study, change and improve the software. More precisely, it refers to four kinds of freedom, for the users of the software:

The freedom to run the program, for any purpose (freedom 0).
The freedom to study how the program works, and adapt it to your needs (freedom 1). Access to the source code is a precondition for this.
The freedom to redistribute copies so you can help your neighbor (freedom 2).
The freedom to improve the program, and release your improvements to the public, so that the whole community benefits (freedom 3). Access to the source code is a precondition for this. "

Here you can find all the programs you need to do your stories at home and elsewhere

http://www.estudiolivre.org

Some help:
To edit your movies KINO and Cinelerra
To edit your images GIMP
To convert your videos FFMPEG
To convert your audios soundKonverter

Enjoy! Be free!!!

When women are inspired....

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 15:45:59 GMT

It is now early evening and the 2nd last day of our digital storytelling workshop. Supper is being prepared and the sun has dipped below the horizon but the women keep on working. It is fantastic to see how involved people are in developing their stories. Today was premier learning day - so all the images, voices, sounds are being brought together and the magic of making ones own story is happening. The women have been working since early and have hardly moved. We have had to coerce them outside to exercise and breathe.

The creativity of the process of creating a digital story is wonderful. There has been scanning of pictures, drawing, taking more photos, dressing up and styling pictures to represent memories. Finding sounds, creating sounds, singing songs, trawling the internet for free sound effects... We'll work past supper time and then - tomorrow we put the titles, credits and finishing touches... and have the screening of all the 12 digital stories.

It is a privilege to work with such creativity, dedication and commitment to the process. I guess there are many lessons here but the one relating to ICTs is - the tools are only useful and can only be learnt when they are put to some relevant task - and here it is creating digital stories out of the lived realities of women's lives.

Posted by Jenny

Making stories into real things....

Tue, 28 Aug 2007 09:54:25 GMT

Yesterday i got totally obsessed with making images do things and transform in Photoshop... wow. I could have gone shopping but didnt! Retail therapy will have to wait... too busy playing.

Today feels like the crunch time - we have been introduced to Adobe Premier, and now we have to see three bits - visuals, sound, and the voice overs we have done already...

Now is not a good time to think i should have done a different story, or even a different image.
Stick to the storyboard and we will do okay.

Posted by Ingrid

(now how do i attach a photo to this post? Hmmmm....)

Busier than the bees

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 09:49:29 GMT

After just about three days, it is amazing how we have all adjusted to Durban and to the new software.
Just finished listening to my voice over, and yes it is so totally my voice. No doubts about that. :-D
I am excited to be here, excited to be learning so much, excited to produce my own digital story. I can't wait to see the end result of all the stories and mostly to the voice overs...

Looking forward to the beach, but mostly the shopping mall and stores this afternoon.
Posted by Elizabeth

Oficina de contação de histórias sobre violência contra as mulheres na África

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 07:18:42 GMT

Desde sábado a tarde 17 mulheres se juntaram em Durban na África do Sul para uma oficina de contação de histórias. As mulheres vieram de lugares distantes como Zimbabwe, Congo, Mali, Gambia, Kenya, Uganda, Brasil e África do Sul, depois de serem selecionadas de um grande número de pessoas. APC-Africa-Women, em parceria com Women'sNet estão organizando a oficina para mulheres documentarem as vidas de mulheres afetadas pela violência na África.

(Partly.. ;P) Posted by Tati

Judy lights a candle

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:43:39 GMT

Judy lights a candle
Originally uploaded by womensnet_gallery

We had a ceremony to remember women we have lost, and to celebrate their lives and our ability to tell stories.

WENT 2007 - Elizabeth, Tati and Ingrid

Mon, 27 Aug 2007 05:38:54 GMT

WENT07: Ingrid, Tati and Elizabeth
Originally uploaded by womensnet_gallery

NOT something happening at our workshop - we are breaking the silence!

Femmes et violence : les TIC peuvent-elles changer les stéréotypes ?

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 10:56:24 GMT

Avez-vous déjà raconté une histoire à quelqu’un ? Avez-vous toujours été dans le rôle de l’auditrice plutôt que de la narratrice? Avez-vous parfois un sentiment de culpabilité pour avoir gardé le silence quand vous pensiez qu’il fallait dire un mot ?

Malgré la diversité des cultures dans les pays, il est évident qu’à chaque instant qui passe, une femme africaine subit la violence. Certaines actions contre les femmes sont considérées comme normales et acceptées par la société, tandis que les personnes qui perpétuent la violence ne sont parfois pas pointées du doigt. Que l’on ait été victime de la violence ou que nous ayons été témoins de cette violence, nous sommes affectées différemment.

Aujourd’hui avec les histoires numériques, les femmes peuvent raconter leurs expériences, communiquer leur courage et engager d’autres femmes pour apporter un changement dans leurs communautés. Depuis des années, les féministes et les activistes réclament que le potentiel des TIC soit utilisé pour faire entendre les voix des femmes et les rendre autonomes. Raconter les expériences en utilisant les moyens technologiques les rend plus puissantes. Ainsi, elles peuvent être accessibles à une plus grande audience dans le monde.

Ce qui est spécifique à la réalisation d’histoires numériques, est que les femmes peuvent elles-mêmes utiliser les outils et prendre contrôle de tout le processus. Elles en ressortent autant guéries qu’épanouies. Les histoires numériques sont devenues un puissant outil de transformation et de plaidoyer. Ce sont des histoires vécues par les femmes et cela reflète la réalité à laquelle elles font face. La technologie facilite en quelque sorte l’expression de nos peines, douleurs, peurs, espoirs et plans.

Raconter nos histoires nous libère assurément du poids qui pèse dans nos cœurs pendant des années. Les TIc nous aident à dire ce que nous n'avons parfois jamais eu le courage de dévoiler. « Ecouter les histoires des autres sous forme numérique alliant la voix, le son, le texte et les images nous redonne de l’espoir et nous savons que nous ne sommes pas seules. » Ce sentiment de solidarité et d’appartenance à un groupe de femmes qui survivent à la violence fait la différence.

Assurément, les TIC peuvent transformer nos vies de femmes.

WENT Afrique 2007 : la technologie pour documenter les vies des femmes victimes de violence

Sun, 26 Aug 2007 09:43:34 GMT

L’atelier sur la réalisation d’histoires numériques a commencé hier à Durban, en Afrique du Sud avec 17 femmes venues de plusieurs pays d’Afrique dont le Kenya, le Mali, la Gambie, l’Ouganda, l’Ethiopie, le Malawi, le Congo et le Brésil.

Les histoires numériques qui sont entrain d’être produites sont focalisées sur la violence à l’égard des femmes sous toutes ses formes. Les participantes sont des journalistes, des documentalistes, activistes ou des employées des organisations qui travaillent dans les droits des femmes. Au cours de ces cinq jours, nous allons apprendre à utiliser les TIC pour créer du contenu par les femmes et pour les femmes, avec des voix de femmes.

Il y a plein d’énergie et une diversité d’expériences, tout est garanti pour que l’atelier soit un succès. L’expérience est vraiment engageante pour les participantes et les formatrices et demande beaucoup de créativité et aussi de compassion. Définitivement, c’est une formation qui porte déjà ses fruits.

Nous attendons beaucoup de cet atelier. « Je voudrais apprendre comment raconter une histoire de façon engageante ». «Je voudrais que ma voix soit entendue ». « Je voudrais comprendre comment utiliser les nouveaux medias pour communiquer ma vie de femme ». La motivation des participantes pouvait se lire sur leurs visages.

WENT Afrique 2007 est organisé par APC-Femmes-Afrique avec la collaboration de Women’snet, dont l’expérience dans la formation sur la réalisation d’histoires numériques n’est plus a démontrer.