By Meenam | Programme Officer
Fostering an enabling environment for multimedia and storytelling
Since 2019, BCMD has trained over 150 high school students of media studies at the Media Lab with practical sessions that complement theoretical learning at the school. The students were introduced to media production ethics, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere-Pro, Lightroom and to remain accountable for their production.
Media lab with its equipment and experienced instructors provides a nurturing environment for young media enthusiasts and inquisitive learners to use the space and equipment to learn media production aiming to cultivate their creative capacity to interact with the world. Although students are oftentimes engaged in their academic and extracurricular activities, avid learners visit the Lab during Saturdays to receive more guidance from the instructor.
The closing event for the multimedia sessions provided the opportunity for the students to showcase their work, where groups and individuals shared their videos and photos with fellow students (71) and the faculty of their school. Students shared that the media lab classes sparked their interest in media and were empowered to use it as a medium to express themselves. The principal of one of the highschools said, “I am impressed with the creative work shared today, which displays your learnings from the sessions and I hope you all continue working with passion on building your capacity.”
The growing number of youth interested in multimedia and storytelling indicates that there is a need to foster an enabling environment. The Media Lab will continue to provide that much-needed space for audio-visual enthusiasts to learn not only to produce films, photographs and podcasts but also provide a forum for the voiceless through storytelling and open forums.
Keeping the oral storytelling culture alive in the Digital Age
Podcasts are popular not only because of its easy accessibility to listeners but more because the listeners are provided with an intimate community where they can resonate and learn from the artists behind the voices.
Since 2019, BCMD has been providing young people in Bhutan with a platform to learn the art of podcasting. The podcasting trainings are organized for the young people to enhance meaningful conversations and engagement with one another on issues that are of personal relevance and societal importance.
The 2021 Podcasting Workshop at the Media Lab trained 17 young people as storytellers focusing on youth’s hopes, concerns, dreams and responsibilities as young citizens of our democracy. The participants were trained on the basics of audio recording and editing, storytelling, investigating social issues and combining all elements to produce their final products. The entire workshop allowed the participants to brainstorm various themes that were close to their hearts. It gave them the platform to interview and hold conversations with relevant stakeholders about the existing social issues that concern the youth today. The participants brought life to the podcasts by narrating scenarios and by making the guest speakers share their stories.
At the end of the training, the participants presented their stories on four different themes: Mental health, Child sexual abuse, LGBTIQ and Entrepreneurship. As the child sexual abuse story was being presented at the listening exhibition on the final day, the Executive Director of Organization for Youth Empowerment (OYE) had this to say: “The stories were really moving and I am sure that like me, tears must have been rolling down the cheeks of some of the other listeners in the audience as well”.
The closing exhibition was attended by 40 people from CSO, educators, youths, media houses and high schools. In addition to the participants presenting their work, the exhibition also offers the opportunity to take the conversation beyond the podcasts to a community of learners who engage with each other and deepen their understanding of the social issues presented.
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