Giving Youth a Free Space to Learn at Media Lab

Dear friends, donors and supporters:

Over these past three months, the Media Lab has provided space for two of our prominent projects. Following the success of the community mapping pilot project held in July 2013, we conducted a second community mapping project for 36 youth in December 2013. Immediately after that, the Media Lab housed a two week long youth parliament initiative workshop, now referred to as the Youth Initiative for Debate, Deliberation and Development (YIDDD). We thank all our supporters for making all of this possible.

Second Community Mapping workshop: Media Nomads VIII (December 18^th till December 28^th 2013): 

Through our post workshop evaluation and participant feedback, we learned that the mapping workshop has much to offer to youth in terms of their understanding of a community-its problems and strengths. The mapping workshop also challenged the participants to think about creative and sustainable solutions to community problems. We, therefore, conducted the 8^th Media Nomads workshop to map five different communities in Thimphu.

One of the participants of the workshop, shares his experience here: “The workshop has reminded me of the reality of where we stand. Today, people have forgotten the very sense of what makes us human. For me, it has given me an inspiration and insight into what I as an individual can do to make a difference and I shall strive for that. Such workshops give us an opportunity to go out and explore our neglected world.”

The 11 day mapping workshop ended successfully at the Media Lab with the participants presenting their findings and solutions to an audience comprising of youth groups, members of the national council (Bhutan’s parliament/ house of review), individuals, media personnel, residents from the communities mapped and members of civil society. Check out some of the pictures from the workshop here on our Facebook page. You can also learn more about the mapping exercise on the Crowd Map created by the participants.

Community Mapping exhibition (December 28^th 2013):

In conjunction with the closing ceremony of the second mapping workshop, an exhibition of stories and photos from the first mapping workshop was held at the Media Lab. The exhibition displays findings from the workshop through posters, photos and also a community mapping book which is a compilation of all the photos and stories.

Through this exhibition we hope to share the experience of all the participants with other people and more importantly to further take the message of community mapping and how a cohort of young people can get involved to bring social change. Check out the exhibition photos on our Facebook page and also click here to download the soft copy of the exhibition materials.

Youth Initiative for Debate, Deliberation and Development (YIDDD) January 1^st- January 17^th 2014:

Initially referred to as Youth Parliament Initiative, the YIDDD is an informal, non-party affiliated association that gives a select group of youth practical, hands-on experience in deliberating on national issues and taking community-based action.

Check out the YIDDD video here. 

As a part of the YIDDD initiative, the first step after electing the youth representatives was to give them a two weeks residential training to learn how to debate and deliberate, analyse issues of youth interest and provide feedback on youth concerns and ideas. The workshop was held at the Media Lab and a first public presentation was conducted at the end of the workshop where the Youth Representatives presented and debated their proposals.

One of the Youth Representatives of YIDDD and also a recent graduate, shares his experience here: “In quest for space to express and learn, Bhutan Centre for Media and Democracy’s Media Lab in Youth Development Fund (YDF) Complex is an ideal place. There, you get platform to express your thoughts, listen to resource persons and equally important, from your peers. Observing International Human Rights Day and attending Youth Initiative for Debate, Deliberation and Development (YIDDD) training at Media Lab gave me - time to meet new people, space to listen to alternative views and platform to express my thoughts. This instilled in me the enthusiasm to listen more, confidence to express my opinion and value to appreciate diverse views that would subsequently ensure quality and inclusive decision” 

Youth Representatives will continue to work on campaigns in their respective committees throughout 2014 at the media lab. Follow our YIDDD activities on Facebook and on YIDDD website

Other events at the Lab:

On 10^th December 2013, the Media Lab saw a packed house discussing and learning about Human Rights as part of a forum to mark International Human Rights Day. A panel discussion on the theme ‘Understanding rights on international rights day’ helped to create general awareness about human rights in the global and Bhutanese context. There were about 60 participants and 4 panelists from various institutions and organizations. (Click here to view human rights poster) 

Since the beginning of November 2013, we have been working on developing storylines for a second series of radio soap JURWA- Changing times. Some of these storyline development activities were conducted at the Media Lab. The radio soap series tries to give opportunities for Bhutanese people to reflect back on our evolving deocracy. Read more about JURWA here.   

It’s been a great time at the media lab for the youth as well as for us at BCMD. Winter here in Bhutan can sometimes get your bones cracking but with such enthusiastic youth eager to learn and debate, it’s been a warm and rousing time at the lab. Thanks to all our friends, donors and supporters for helping us build a community at our Media Lab.