By Tila Maya Kharka | Assst. Communications Officer
Multimedia Training for Students -23rd to 30th August
Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy (BCMD) conducted a multimedia training programme for 60 students from four local schools in Tsirang district. The training programme focused on essential skills in videography, photography, design and audio podcasting and was designed to empower students through using multimedia tools to communicate effectively and drive positive change within their communities.
The training, held at the Professional Development Centre in Tsirang, is a residential camp that brought together students from Damphu Middle Secondary School and Tsirangtoe Central School in the first batch from 23 till 26 of August, and Damphu Central School and Mendrelgang Central School from 27 to 30 of August in the second batch. The participants were immersed in intensive learning modules designed to introduce them to the art of visual and audio storytelling.
Participants began their training with an introduction to photography, where they learned about composition, framing, and storytelling through visuals. This was followed by practical sessions where students were challenged to capture images using specific photographic techniques such as the rule of thirds and leading lines.
In the audio podcasting session, students were introduced to the basics of podcast creation, from scriptwriting to recording and editing. Hands-on sessions allowed them to experiment with mobile podcasting apps and produce their own podcast episodes. Moreover, the students were introduced to PremierePro and Canva Designing, a versatile tool that allows users to create visually appealing content with ease. The session emphasised the importance of visual content in effective communication and media.
The overarching goal of the training was to integrate multimedia skills with community mapping initiatives, empowering students to become effective communicators and advocates for social causes and change, in their communities. By learning how to use tools like videography and podcasting, students were equipped with the skills and knowledge to translate their voice in effectively highlighting. issues within their communities and contribute to meaningful dialogue and bringing about required change.
Youth Initiative Alumni Reunion and Strategic Planning - 17th to 21st August
BCMD hosted a strategic planning event for Youth Initiative (YI) alumni. The event brought together alumni from both early and recent cohorts to reflect on the programme’s evolution since its 2013 inception and strategise for its future.
The strategic planning session provided alumni with a platform to discuss their personal experiences and the profound impact the YI programme has had on their perspectives, critical thinking and choices, and ultimately their careers. Discussions focused on refining the programme’s approach to enhance mentorship, improve communication, re-engage alumni, and innovate feedback and fundraising strategies through a youth-centric approach.
Participants emphasised the role of youth as change agents and advocates for their communities. The event set the stage for a more dynamic YI programme, aimed at remaining relevant to Bhutanese youth and effectively fostering personal agency.
BCMD expressed gratitude for the alumni’s support and insights, as well as sought their continued support in strengthening the YI programme so that it remains relevant to changing times and being impactful.
Journalists Trained on effective Reporting -12 to 16 August 2024
BCMD organised a five-day intensive training programme attended by 21 reporters from eight media houses in Bhutan. The training equipped the reporters with skills critical in delivering impactful stories and bringing out critical issues to light.
The sessions covered essential journalism skills, such as news writing, interview techniques, multimedia journalism, and investigative journalism. Participants were introduced to new methods for gathering and planning investigative stories, crafting hypotheses, navigating ethical dilemmas, and selecting the appropriate media platforms such as multimedia for their stories.
The training also covered practical insights into journalism standards, lead story writing, and multimedia storytelling. The training content was well received considering that the majority of the participants did not come with a background in journalism while they had taken up a profession in this sector. The training was seen as a timely intervention to equip young reporters with the necessary skills and tools to professionalise the individuals and the media sector.
Training on Advocacy Skills, Strategic Media Engagement, Research, and Policy Review -30th July-1st August.
BCMD Organised a Training on Advocacy Skills, Strategic Media Engagement, Research, and Policy Review for research assistants of the Parliament of Bhutan and CSOs. This event brought together research assistants from the National Assembly and National Council of Bhutan, along with programme officers from few Civil Society Organisations.
The training content was aimed towards empowering the participants with the knowledge and skills necessary to drive positive change and enhance efficiency and productivity at their relevant workplaces. Participants were equipped with essential skills in advocacy, media engagement, research techniques, and comprehensive policy and legislative review and methodologies and briefs, that are relevant to their work. Training participants were also made aware of the importance of evidence-based planning and research works to support their work and bring about impactful outcomes in their fields of work.
BCMD will continue to build on providing focused and advanced training to research officers in order to strengthen democracy through fostering a more informed, inclusive and consultative, and evidence-based policy discussions and decisions fostering good governance.
Youth Initiative Camp 2024 -8th to 11th of July
A group of 33 enthusiastic young individuals from various schools and colleges across Paro, Thimphu, Haa, Samtse, Gedu, and Bumthang participated in a four-day Youth Initiative Summer Camp at the Royal Thimphu College. On the first day of the camp, BCMD delivered presentations designed to help participants understand the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the reporting process, and the concept of the child mandala. This camp brought together children from the Summer and Winter Youth Initiative Camps of 2023, who contributed to the Alternative Report on Child Rights in Bhutan, along with a few new participants.
During the camp, participants explored their rights, closely reviewed the concluding observations on Bhutan’s combined sixth and seventh periodic reports, and developed actionable plans to promote and protect children’s rights in Bhutan. Additionally, they learned about their responsibilities while exercising their rights.
On the final day of the camp, a half-day advocacy event on Child Rights was organised for the relevant stakeholders with the children participants. Her Excellency, the Education Minister along with members of parliament, relevant government agencies, civil society organisations and international NGOs working for the welfare of the children attended the advocacy event. The event provided a crucial platform for the participants to voice their concerns and advocate on the issues affecting children’s rights in Bhutan and call for actions in addressing these issues.
During the advocacy event, the children participants took centre stage, presenting thoughtful discussions on several fundamental rights of children in Bhutan. They addressed issues concerning children’s rights to education, participation, protection from violence and harmful substances, privacy, appropriate information, as well as access to health, water, and food. Alongside identifying these critical issues, the children also proposed actionable solutions to address them effectively. They poignantly presented the need for their voices to be heard and paid attention to by the policy makers and adults alike, particularly in determining policies and actions that affect them.
Links:
Project reports on GlobalGiving are posted directly to globalgiving.org by Project Leaders as they are completed, generally every 3-4 months. To protect the integrity of these documents, GlobalGiving does not alter them; therefore you may find some language or formatting issues.
If you donate to this project or have donated to this project, you can receive an email when this project posts a report. You can also subscribe for reports without donating.
Support this important cause by creating a personalized fundraising page.
Start a Fundraiser
