Barefoot Workshops

Objective

Governments funnel hundreds of millions of dollars into addressing development goals each year, and rely on written reports to evaluate and measure the true impact of their programs.

In the first of a series of workshops, produced in partnership with the Digital Freedom Initiative, Barefoot Workshops demonstrates how video by the people can shape policymakers understanding of complex challenges from a "firsthand" perspective- and lead to improved evaluation and outcomes.

South Africa- Program Summary

In November of 2006, Barefoot Workshops partnered with the U.S. Digital Freedom Initiative (DFI), to train students and NGO workers to leverage digital video technology to highlight effective solutions to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Students were paired with local organizations to shoot, produce and edit three-minute video policy letters that focused on a program or best practice that deserves increased funding and expansion.

View Videos or Read Video Summaries and Organizational Partners

What is a video policy letter?

A video policy letter is a "video memo" that conveys key factors influencing policy developments that decisionmakers would not otherwise be aware of through daily meetings, press clips and intelligence briefs. The video provides a snapshot of the current status of an issue, recommends specific options for resolution, and defines necessary actions to take. The video uses the format of: problem, solution and recommended response. The memo often indicates funding and deadlines associated with the decision.

Resulting videos were screened live from the U.S. Consulate in Cape Town, via videoconference, to members of the Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), USAID's Global Health office, U.S. State Department, the Corporate Council on Africa and Computer Frontiers.

The program succeeded in using low-cost video technology to communicate targeted information to policymakers- bridging those at the grassroots level with stakeholders at the top.

Local outcomes of the workshop included: increased networks of support and resource-sharing among participating nonprofit and community-based organizations in South Africa, and strengthened leadership and communication tools for participating students.

The Barefoot Model

Barefoot Workshops pioneers new models or "media templates" that reinforce citizen-led, community-based solutions for its students and partners in public and private sectors.

It works toward a model that is sustainable and that empowers local communities. Barefoot offsets the basic costs of workshops with tuition from local and international students.

Working with sponsors Tekserve (www.tekserve.com), at least one "media care package" - consisting of a refurbished laptop computer, editing software, video camera, tripod and all accessories- is donated to each nonprofit organization that Barefoot works with- upon completion of their training.

Barefoot also develops local networks of support for organizations and individuals dedicated to using media to find and spread solutions. The goal is to create a hub of media-interested groups who serve as a resource to others locally, reinforcing knowledge and continued learning after the workshop enads.

Upcoming Workshop

Barefoot offers two to four-week workshops in narrative, documentary, news or media-arts production, customized to the needs and interests of our partners.

Workshop Descriptions

Africa Workshops Description 85K PDF

Burundi Course Description 413K PDF.

Cape Town Course Description 426K PDF.

Johannesburg Course Description 153K PDF.

Examples Of Past Workshops Include

KENYA - UNHCR / FilmAid International
Two-week workshop in Kakuma Refugee Camp with Filmaid International, to teach displaced persons how to use narrative filmmaking to address issues such as HIV/AIDS stigma and forced marriage. Videos screened in camp which hosts 90,000 refugees.

RWANDA - FXB International
Two-week workshop for staff and beneficiaries to make short videos to report back to international donors.

SOUTH AFRICA - Digital Freedom Initiative (US Department of State)
One-month workshop to train local caregivers to create "video memos" to inform policymakers in Washington DC of effective responses to the HIV/AIDS epidemic in Southern Africa.

NORTHERN UGANDA - Government of Lira, Uganda.
One-week arts empowerment workshop for children in three Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) camps using music, art and drama to heal their experiences of war and displacement. www.ariverblue.org

HONDURAS - PLAN USA
One-week Youth Media Workshop training kids from the U.S Gulf Coast, El Salvador, and Honduras to share stories and improve the response of their communities to natural disaster.

USA - Ocean Classroom and Maritime Challenge
One-week workshop held on a schooner in Maine, teaching kids to sail and use media to share their stories of survival with other youth currently dealing with cancer. Visit www.findingtruenorth.org

In 2007, Barefoot is leading the following workshops:

Burundi - UNESCO
Two-week workshop focused how to incorporate video into resolving land repatriation disputes between Hutu and Tutsi families.

South Africa - The Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation
One-month workshop to train-the-trainers in how to administer support services to HIV positive people in the field.

Tunisia - Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI)
Two-week workshops to train social entrepreneurs in the areas of digital video production and advanced communication strategies.

Please visit our web site (www.barefootworkshops.org) for more information about upcoming workshops.

Contact

Chandler Griffin
Founding Director - Barefoot Workshops, Inc.
(a not-for-profit)
www.barefootworkshops.org
View Videos or Read Video Summaries and Organizational Partners

C 917-385-9343
H chandler.griffin@mac.com
W chandler@barefootworkshops.com

Alison Fast
Program Director - Barefoot Workshops, Inc.
(a not-for-profit)
www.barefootworkshops.org

C 310-497-7109
H alisonfast@mac.com
W alison.fast@barefootworkshops.org