We are happy to announce that, after the first Bongodox documentary film from 2010, Bongodox is getting ready for new productions, supported by Bongo Development Tourism with a grant from The Project Fund which is financed by The Danish Ministry of Foreign Affairs (DANIDA) and administered by The Project Advice and Training Centre (Projektrådgivningen). At the platform Bongo Camping preparations have started for the production of two documentary films on tourism and environment, one documentary film on HIV/AIDS and a music video with Kisamakibo band. The new project also includes an education tour and distribution of the mentioned music video. (Bongodox 2 Project description)
The objectives of Bongodox
Bongodox is a young African film production group operating from Bongo Camping in Mbeya Region of Tanzania (www.bongocamping.com). The group is owned by the African civil society organisation KUMBE. Supported by the Danish partner Bongo Development Tourism, KUMBE´s film activities are making a difference in development. To our knowledge there are no other film producers in the district actively presenting and debating the realities of HIV transmission and environmental degradation. The Mbeya region is among the worst affected areas as regards the number of HIV-infected, and the lack of openness towards this problem only adds to the complexity of the situation. In KUMBE’s first HIV/AIDS documentary, a man infected with HIV shares his point of view on the HIV-situation in the next village. He claims that only very few people in the village have the courage to speak openly about their life with HIV and that he is aware of several HIV-infected who decline to undergo testing and receive medication from the local hospital. Through the film media his message is reaching a considerable number of people. In the new project, KUMBE will carry on and extend this process toward greater openness to more parts of the district.
Film production and poverty
Film production could play a significant role in the efforts to combat poor living conditions and present the youth with opportunities. Groups of civil society who carry the responsibility to advocate for the poor, can exploit the film media in order to spread messages and confront society and its leaders with challenges that must find common solutions. The poorest people need civil society to make room for their perspectives on the visual media stage. As a civil society group KUMBE takes this opportunity to shed light on the problems most fiercely effecting the poor majority of Mbeya Region. The aim of KUMBE´s film production is to make the voice of the poor come through. The poorest people must be the ones who profit from this enterprise.
During the scheduled education tour of Bongodox, the project participants will set out to strengten the dialogue between KUMBE and those marginalized groups of the society who are mostly excluded from desicion making processes. One of the target groups is girls/women who often take the blame for being the root of HIV transmission, in spite of the fact that men according to the tradition are free to choose sexual partners as they please. In relation to both HIV and environmental issues girls/women typically have less influence than men. The project will address this reality by producing films in which the roles and voices of girls/women receive attention. Another target group is the youth. In Tanzania one third of the population is young people aged between 10 and 24, and so the future country depends on them, regarding health and society´s unity and coherence. This reality will be reflected in the new productions. The perspectives of young people will also get attention during film events at 12 secondary schools in Rungwe District.
For girls, youths and villagers
The participants of the Bongodox project are eight members of KUMBE, among whom might be several participants from the Bongodox training period in 2010. The band Kisamakibo will be a partner in the music video production included in the new project. In general the Bongodox project builds on previously established cooperation, which will make it possible to exploit the resources and skills available in KUMBE. The primary target group for the Bongodox project is citizens of Mbeya Region. These citizens are economically and educationally weak, and in their lives they must cope with the threat of HIV/AIDS. The new project will consider young people (aged between 15 and 25), citizens from village areas and finally girls/women. There will be efforts to make girls/women a part of crucial debates. At schools the project will contribute knowledge about society´s present challenges like HIV and environmental degradation, education which is lacking due to poor shool budgets. The pupils are motivated to learn more about protection from HIV, and they are curious to know how local environmental innovations are developing. Their strenght is to comprehend and learn quickly, especially through modern media, and this became clear to KUMBE during three film events conducted at local schools during February and March 2011. The target groups will benefit from the Bongodox project in several ways, as the basic means of Bongodox is to build on interaction positively enhanced by the inspiring atmosphere of film media.
For more info: Read the Bongodox 2 project description
No comments:
Post a Comment