PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988-2001 16 Video: a tool for participation

Document begins: PLA Notes CD-ROM 1988­2001 16 Video: a tool for participation Megan Lloyd Laney Community video in Zimbabwe construct a participative monitoring system in which the community uses video to detect In Zimbabwe, a community of workers calling ways in which the video process is changing themselves their lives. Masimanyane (Ndebele for `Let us Unite') are using video to break out of their cycle of despondency and hopelessness. The Members of the community are currently workers are employed by poor, small-scale writing scripts for dramas. These allow them farmers in one of the poorest parts of to explore sensitive issues which they could Matabeleland where few development never previously discuss. By taping these organisations are active. The farmers have dramas they hope to stimulate discussions been given basic video training and the wider in the community. necessary equipment by FARMESA, a new, regional FAO programme which dedicates Examples abound of video projects in which itself to finding more participative ways of the control is with those who own and manage working with poor farmers. the equipment. In most cases the controllers are film producers, sometimes development Video has been introduced by FARMESA to specialists but rarely the community facilitate ...