Newsletter Week
31, August 2012.
Bongo Dox and the BDT
and Kumbe partnership
Catherine Gathoni and Mathias Haase from
Denmark arrived safely in Tukuyu, Mbeya in August. They will be assisting Kumbe
throughout the education tour, which started 6 August 2012 and planned to end
in October 2012. While Catherine is contributing with her experience from the
Danish organisation Salaam Film & Dialog, Mathias is contributing with his
knowledge with acoustic engineering and other practical matters.
Catherine and Mathias report that the
co-operation between BDT and Kumbe is living to the spirit of a genuine
partnership. Matters are discussed in an open forum between the members, and
final decisions on how to put different solutions into practice are made by the
board members of Kumbe.
Bongo Dox - education
tour:
At the end of August, Kumbe will have visited
12 villages. The first three visits took place last week. Kumbe has shown their
documentaries and discussed matters related to HIV and environmental issues in
Mbambo, Masoko and Katembo villages. The music and dancing by the group
Kisamakibo is used as an attraction tool, and once darkness has arrived, the
documentaries are shown. Bongo Dox is yet to visit following villages, Mbeye
one, Kopologwe, Ibililo, Mboyo, Simike, Ikama and Kibisi. In September, when
the secondary school students are back from summer holidays, Kumbe will start
the second part of the education tour.
The villagers are generally happy to see Bongo
Dox. First and foremost, they are happy that an enjoyable event is taking place
in their village - having them at the centre of attention. Secondly, they are
happy to be given a chance to be heard about local problems and concerns. In
fact some, when interviewed, use the opportunity to speak to the mass about
proper behaviour related to environment and HIV/AIDS.
The chairman of each village is responsible for
organising the gathering of the people, and each has received a letter
informing on the date and timing of the event. However, the number and variety
of people at the different events depends on location. With most youth,
children and men participating at the events, it seems that many women are busy
with housework. However in Masoko more women participated in the event than in
Mbambo. The proportion of women participating will be observed throughout the
education tour.
Progress:
Bongo Dox encountered some infantile challenges
related to technicalities and layout of the scenery at the first viewing in
Mbambo. However, as Kumbe is dedicated to progress. Evaluations are held after
each viewing and solutions implemented accordingly in a professional manner.
Solutions to the challenges in Mbambo were discussed the following day at a
group meeting and successfully implemented at the second viewing in Masoko. Now
that the technique is in place, the focus has shifted to improving presentation
skills, questioning technique and project evaluation methods.
As the tour progress - there are more newsletters to come. For now, get a taste of The Education Tour by viewing the pictures taken in Mbambo and Masoko.
