Participatory Video has been used successfully by communities to make change through sustained and effective advocacy campaigns. Planning, working and analysing together enables them to evolve local solutions and reflect on their values as a group and individually. This process boosts their confidence to address broader issues and secure change. Here are some examples.
As part of the 'Conversations with the Earth — Indigenous Voices on Climate Change' programme InsightShare has supported the development of an indigenous media network around the world. Since 2009 the participatory video process has helped inspire indigenous communities across five continents to work together to protect the planet for future generations. This impact report summarises their stories and the story of InsightShare's contribution to the programme.
An article on the Transparency International blog about how the African chapters in Ghana, Liberia, Mozambique, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Zambia are supporting poor communities to make their own films to highlight the problems they face linked to corruption.
Soledad Muniz, InsightShare Associate, has contributed with two articles in the PLA 63 How wide are the ripples? From local participation to international organisational learning: 'Western Balkans Green Agenda, local storytelling through participatory video making', in the section 'Making Sense'; and 'InsightShare's global network of community video hubs' in the section 'Structures, mechanisms and spaces'.
In March 2010 we organised the first Conversations with the Earth Community Festival to celebrate biodiversity and cultural diversity around the world and in our hometown Oxford in particular. Over the course of nine days diverse activities - ranging from film screenings and lectures to discussions, practical workshops, participatory ‘ceremonies’, comedy shows and dance events - took place in the Old Book Binders in East Oxford, UK.
Since the start of the Conversations with the Earth (CWE) Programme, InsightShare has worked with indigenous communities across 5 continents. This catalogue provides an overview of all videos that have been produced by these communities since the network’s launch in March 2009. The films communicate the collective voices of women, men, young people and elders.
This document about a media hub development training carried out in Vicam, Mexico in 2010, describes the the aims, outputs and successes of the training. It also includes notes on new Participatory Video games that were developed during the process.
A training of facilitators from all around the Asian-Pacific region introduced Participatory Video to a group of indigenous youth activists, who created a film about their views on the UN REDD programme during the process.
The Participatory Video project in Fort Chipawayen worked with young Cree, Dene and Metis peoples around the changes in climate, culture and society they are facing.
'Lives of the Forest' was created by indigenous activists from across the Asia Pacific region exploring the likely impacts of the UN's REDD programme on indigenous resources and lifestyles. It was created during a participatory video facilitator training in Ifugao (Philippines) by representatives of 15 distinct indigenous communities from 8 different countries.