A selection of our projects
Tanga Pasi: building a band in rural Zimbabwe
"Tanga Pasi" is Kalanga for 'Starting from Scratch'. This is the name of the new band that we are slowly but surely building up in our home village in western Zimbabwe. With two guitars, a bass and a harmonica, we are learning as we go. The band is focussing on acapella harmonies right now, to complement guitar-based songs with a unique homegrown style. Watch this space!
Participatory and community video work in Durban
Afflilated to the Centre for Civil Society (CCS) at the University of KwaZulu-Natal in Durban, Pamela is leading a community outreach and capacity building program aimed at establishing a network of community film-makers and a video resource at the CCS. Funds were acquired to purchase two basic video production kits for the CCS network.
As well as producing several short documentaries on community-based issues, the team have worked with community groups affected by the xenophobic violence that erupted in May 2008, applying participative communication techniques to assist the community groups in producing their own short documentaries about their communities. To see these videos click here.
After over 70 community members took part in these participatory video workshops, a series of short courses in basic video production were organised. Thirty people undertook this one-week basic training in video-making and are now developing their own projects, with free access to equipment. Additionally, Pamela then ran a course in participatory video facilitation for 12 of the trainees, who are now ready to run their own community workshops and expand the scope of the project.
Development of a Grassroots Video Proposal Production Unit, with the Future Centre Trust in Barbados
Many donor organizations are mandated to provide funding to communities wishing to make a positive contribution to our local and global environments. However, grassroots community groups -such as farmer's cooperatives, youth and women's groups and others- are often ill-equipped to even begin to make a funding application to implement their ideas for environmental/development projects to match the funding agencies requirements. These groups often have the most potential to make a real difference to local environmental practices and conditions... and yet the process one is required to go through in order to access funding renders these groups the least able to access funds. Such grant applications demand a high level of competency in literacy and other communication skills, as well as experience and confidence in dealing with bureaucratic processes and suchlike.
This Grassroots Video Proposal project is unique in that it aims to improve the process of applying for funding for environmental projects in order to improve the accessibility of funds to community groups. The impact of this project could therefore have resounding significance for community groups wishing to implement projects in Barbados.
'Making Video Proposals: a guidebook for community groups' is now complete and you can contact us for a free copy!
Fund-raising for the Ngwana School Creative Arts and Technologies Resource Centre
Our goal for 2010-2011 is to raise US$20,000 to build a music and creative arts resource centre at the school, where regular workshops can be held and equipment can be stored securely.
Project Vision
- To build a sustainable Creative Arts and Technologies Centre for the youth of Ngwana; empowering young people with new skills, expressive communication tools, inspiration and awareness of the application of arts and technology in society.
- To build a new music and creative arts block at Ngwana Primary School.
- To source equipment and furniture, etc.
- To organise regular educational and creative activities for the school children.
- To organise community events, using the new resource as a focal point.
Ngwana Primary School Book Project, Zimbabwe
We have organised an informal UK-Zimbabwe partnership program and continue to motivate support for the assistance of Ngwana's children.
Thanks to many donations, Ngwana Primary School received US$750 worth of books for Christmas 2009.
Siyabalendela Community Water Project
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We secured funding for the drilling of a borehole on behalf of the Siyabalendela Community Garden Project in Zimbabwe.
Project Aim: To increase access to safe drinking water and community food production through construction of a borehole. The Siyabalandela group, as well as the larger community, currently have extremely limited access to water; two existing boreholes are 6km apart.
The borehole will:
- Provide water source for Siyabalandela Community Garden Project
- Increase food productivity and extend period of crop cultivation due to better access to water (food security)
- Enhance nutritional health of community
The project should be complete by the end of 2010: watch this space!
Community project management and implementation for Matjinge High School, Zimbabwe
Photo by A. Morstin. (l-r) Pamela, Mr. Tele (headmaster) and Mr. Marcin (Ambassador of Poland).
On belhalf of Matjinge High School in South Madebeleland, we managed a project funded by the Embassy of Poland. The project involved the management of funds, sourcing and procurement of US$12,000 worth of text books for the school.
Seeking donors to support an indigenous arts and crafts project for a rural women's group
In June 2010, the Ngwana Women's Craft Group was established. Pamela, Monica Ngwenya and Sifelani Moyo are founding members of the craft group, which involves about 10 young women in craft skills development, coached by village elders. After spending a year developing our skills through different workshops (including basketry and needlework) we will then launch a small business and product line. Already, we have managed to sell 30 baskets and thereby raise money to invest in materials for the sewing workshops.
