Message-ID: <199608181642.MAA32504@outpost.ietc.ca> Date: Sun, 18 Aug 1996 12:52:46 +0800 From: Georges Lessard <mailto:media@IETC.CA> Subject: Gram Vikas Ed. Media Unit, Berhampur, Orissa To: Multiple recipients of list DEVEL-L <mailto:DEVEL-L@AMERICAN.EDU>
A project to establish an educational media unit for: Gram Vikas, Berhampur, Orissa, India, a local NGO.I am in the process of I am being posted by VSO Canada mailto:<VSOcan@magi.com> to the Indian state of Orissa to assist Gram Vikas, Mohuda Post, Berhampur 760 002, Ganjam District, Orissa set up an educational media unit. I still have, as of yet, not had a chance to talk with anyone on the ground there, so I'm doing all the research that I can. E-mail and the WWW has already proved to be a mine of information.
My VSO posting documentation says (in part) -
"Purpose of the Placement "Gram Vikas is a well established NGO that works to empower and organize tribal people throughout Orissa, to raise their quality of life and level of self esteem. From its base in south Orissa it runs programmes in Community Health, Education, Afforestation, Savings and Credit, Income Generation, Biogas Technology, Disaster Management, and Women Related Activities. Most of the 370 workers are field oriented, each projects runs as a separate unit and control is decentralized."
"Gram Vikas has requested a volunteer to develop a media unit that is capable of producing video, audio, photographic and printed materials for all of their activities."
"As an organization, Gram Vikas is well resourced to develop a media unit. It needs such a unit to promote its activities and develop educational and training material. It is unable to carry through many of the ideas that are generated for a wide range of projects."
"It has a budget for new equipment as well as having the in-house capacity for building a studio space and design and production facilities...."
"Key Duties - Coordinate the development of an audio visual unit -Advise on the design of the unit and purchase of equipment -Produce audio and visual material that meets the requirements of Gram Vikas -Produce training material on the income generation projects of Gram Vikas -Identify suitable video projects and research and write scripts in collaboration with projects staff -Develop training workshops to develop the media skills for Gram Vikas staff"
I have just returned from some VSO workshops in Birmingham and preparing to go to Berhampur, Ganjam District, Orissa to take up the project about the 4th of October.
As I said, I have, as yet had no direct contact with Gram Vikas, but whish to prepare myself as best possible by doing as much general research as possible.
That's why I wish to start a dialogue with local groups so that I might learn from those who are all ready working with the people and electronic, educational, drama &/or development media.
I have worked in Canada doing similar work with urban community groups and with Canada's First Nations, the Inuit & the Inuvialuit (called by the Cree, Eskimos) and always look forward to the possibility of speaking of and sharing about the community's access to media in Canada when possible!
I suspect that it would help meet Gram Vikas' objectives if I did some more research on the current work in media & development in India and would like to meet and speak with media & development people and organizations when I pass via Delhi en route to Berhampur. I am aiming to start the journey there in the first week of this October.
I'd like to know about any educational media & / or community access radio, TV &/or video organization to help Gram Vikas establish working local links. Please help me contact any that you might know about.
I would not like to duplicate work already done when working together would help more people.
Is it possible to consider working with Berhampur University at the Bhanja Vihar campus's journalism program on such a project, for example?
By the way, while I'm in Orissa, if I can help any other media groups in the region by workshopping hands-on radio or TV production &/or media literacy, I'd be pleased to do so. Please help me get in touch with such groups you might have contact with.
I am given to believe that establishing an email account is possible, so most likely the email address that this message comes from <mailto:media@ietc.ca> will be forwarded to an Indian email address some time after early October.
So that's all for this communication from me from this part of the world. I hope we might help each other and work together during the two years I'll be in India and available in the region.
Thanks much for your time, thoughts & consideration & for the responses to my previous postings on this project.
Georges ------ from the digital space of ------ GEORGES LESSARD Award winning video artist, Tokyo & Montreal Freelance Communications Arts, Training, Management & Mentoring 7305 Ch du Huard, Lac Pilon, Mt. Rolland, Quebec, Canada. J0R 1G0 Voice & Fax (514) 229-3666 E-MAIL mailto:media@ietc.ca
"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." (Gandhi) "The fool wonders, the wise man asks." (Benjamin Disraeli)
Original material c copyright 1996 George Lessard & may be quoted, resent, reproduced, stored or forwarded provided this copyright notice is attached. Under Canadian copyright law, copyright may not be transferred without a specific, written agreement. As the above original work originates in Canada, it is therefore subject to Canadian law. Text quoted or forwarded is the property of other copyright holder(s).