Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Digital Stories for Transformation
Women’sNet:Is a feminist organisation and
works to advance gender equality and justice in South Africa through the use of Information &Communication Technologies (ICT’s) by:
providing content and training that supports individual women, girls, women’s organizations and networks to take control of their own content and use of technology
We believe that access to information is a human right, and the means to communicate must be made affordable and accessible.
Women’sNet cont…
• We recognize that ICT’s are a gendered tool, and seek to address gender imbalances in access and meaningful use of ICT’s through research and advocacy for gender aware ICT policy and programmes
• We build women’s organizational capacity to use technology strategically to find the people, tools, resources and content they need for social action
Women’sNetWhat we do:• Training – on strategic use of ICTs,
Online Advocacy and Lobbying, Basic Internet and Email for women’s organisations, Information management, E-Networking and custom designed courses
• Technical Planning for women’s NGOs – making strategic, sustainable decisions on your organization’s use of technology
• Website Planning – creating a sustainable resource that contributes to your organizational goals
• Influencing ICT Policy and regulation for gender justice
• Facilitate and develop quality contenton women and gender
• Technical services such as designing, hosting and managing websites and listservs
Why the Girls’Net Project• This project seeks to promote awareness about the
gendered experiences of high school girls in South African provinces in order to promote and underscore the importance of girls education. Awareness of their experiences and the importance of education for girls -among other issues – Is raised via the camp and
• production of information is guided by themes identified from the consultation meeting (with clubs) and through Girls’Net training camps.
• The training equips the girls with the necessary technical skills to produce content for the web site and other media platforms
Women’s Voices• “young women” are as different from each
other as they are from young men –homogeneity myth
• They have their own voice – no need to “give women voice” or “speak for the voiceless”
• Who tells stories? Which stories are heard, how and where?
• Who mediates women’s voices –particularly voices of young women and girls?
• Are young women’s voices and stories appropriated?
What Are Digital Stories?
• Stories by South African women
• In our own voice, speaking for ourselves
• Using our own images• Made, recorded and
disseminated digitally• With technology in our
own hands• An approach that is
empowering and healing
Who participated?• Forum for the Empowerment of
Women (FEW) members• OUT LGBTI Wellness• GALA• Nisaa Institute for Women’s
Development• Young women from the
Margaret Sanger programme and Girls’Net
The Making of……• Four day workshop• Script development• Technical tutorials on editing
images• Scanning and taking pictures• Technical tutorial on building
movies and story boarding• Support and individual work• Post-workshop work by
Women’sNet
The book……
• “I have Listened, I have heard” gives ideas for trainers on using the digital story collection DVD for training and education work
• There are 15 digital stories on the DVD
• More stories are available on request
Why Digital stories?
• They show the real application of abstract rights in women’s and girls’ everyday lives
• Women and girls speak for themselves, in diversity of language context and voice
• Provides innovative training tools• Shows the application of ICTs in a real way• Build skills, share information, contribute to
healing of others, and participants
What story-tellers said:• “I had never told my story to anyone before, and at the
beginning I felt very guilty to share it, now I feel less ashamed”
• “It made a difference in my life to share my story for a change cause its been haunting my whole, now I definitely feel better.”
• “I’ve let go of the pain I’ve been hiding inside”• “I never spoke about some of my issues, I thought I
would be judged and I am relieved’• “I managed to talk about my past for the first time”• “Now I feel like my voice will be heard and I believe it
will make a difference”
Cont….• “Sometimes you can look at yourself, and
think you are alright, that I discovered about myself in this workshop is that there is still that sadness of a rejected child, that I have to deal with right now”
• “Aware that the pain never altogether vanish but, I can cope and be positive person
• “To share our stories with others healed. I think that our stories will heal other women too.”
• “I think it was a healing process to me, thank you very much”
Cont…• “My spirit was lifted up and now I believe in
my self – that nothing is impossible• “Always talking and sharing your problem has
a way of moving something or being in touch with your own emotional scars. To see others who have done something for themselves makes you to be more stronger and set alight your own candle and you start making more resolutions”
• “Hearing about other women and telling yours, sharing the past and the future together”
What users said:Comments on the Digital stories:Nonhlanhla Mkhize Director, Durban Lesbian and Gay
Community and Health Centre: “This is great. Media like this is a crucial resource and I’m sure it will go a long way!”
Linda Boumann – Information officer, The Rainbow Project (TRP) Namibia “The digital stories are stunning emotional eye-opening, very human for one to relate to. Excellent quality and just speaks about issues affecting our communities and it would reach the ‘closeted’ communities. Aluta Continua”
Martin Stevens Community Media Development Facilitator, Southern African Media and Gender Institute, South Africa (SAMGI) “The booklet is friendly and well designed, clear and readable and legible – the graphics and icons make is easy to understand – excellent.”
Future Digital StoriesDigital Stories for Transformation is a regular feature of
Women’sNet’s work, along with development of audio, print and online content.
We also offer the development of digital stories and other content to organisations as a service.
