Video4Change Network Gatherings
- Share skills and build common resources
- Identify and solve shared problems
- Spark and support collaborations
- Raise the profile of the Network and the practice of Video for Change
Grassroots Gathering, South Africa
In October 2019, 40 Video for Change practitioners met in Stellenbosch, outside Cape Town, South Africa to share knowledge, build skills, and explore collaboration. The event focused on the work of indigenous and other grassroots groups, with a further focus on the environment and the climate crisis.
Over five days, participants explored how to improve their filmmaking, tell better stories, and ultimately create more impact on a range of critical issues.
The convening event was organised by InsightShare, with the support of EngageMedia and Witness, and funded by the Bertha Foundation.
Watch the video report, read about foundations of the convening, and the experiences of the participants.
Third Global Convening, Sri Lanka
In November 2017, the Video4Change Network met in Colombo, Sri Lanka, for the Third Global Convening. Hosted on the side of the Global Voices Summit, the convening brought together ten of the twelve Network members including WITNESS, the Organization for Visual Progression, SocialTIC, EngageMedia, B’Tselem, InsightShare, Video Volunteers, Small World News, Videre, and the Freedom Film Network.
Convened by EngageMedia and Cartara, the internal meeting and public engagement at the Global Voices Summit built momentum, raised the profile of the Network’s activities among a broader set of citizen journalists, created a set of tangible collaborative activities, and seeded a long term vision for the Network.
Read a blog post on the Video4Change Network session at the Global Voices Summit, or watch interviews from members to learn more about their motivations.
Second Latin America Gathering, Mexico
In July 2015, SocialTic hosted a convening in Mexico City for video activists from around Latin America to exchange knowledge and develop joint actions between collectives that work on video for social change. The gathering brought together more than 50 people from 14 countries – building new relationships, reinforcing existing ties, and developing new ways to organize collectively.
Second Global Convening, Mexico
In July 2015, more than thirty leaders in the Video for Change field gathered in Tepoztlán, Mexico, for the second global meeting of the Video4Change Network. The event convened organisations from India, Argentina, Kenya, Malaysia, the US, Guatemala, and more for a week of strategic conversations, knowledge sharing, and network building. Hosted by SocialTIC, EngageMedia, and WITNESS, the week was a chance to share knowledge and tactics, update one another on our activities, and review the Network’s objectives and plans.
The week culminated with a public event in Mexico City and was followed by the second Latin America gathering.
Indonesia Gathering
In March 2014, twelve video activists from Java came together for the first Video4Change gathering in Indonesia. Hosted by EngageMedia in Yogyakarta, they shared their experiences in making videos for social change, with a particular focus on creating and assessing impact.
Participants discussed definitions and understandings of impact and how to measure it, based on their varied knowledge, experiences, and contexts. While past Video4Change materials and research findings were used as guidelines, participants also explored their own definitions, as well as how to keep the process realistic and attainable.
Africa Gathering, South Africa
In March 2014, WITNESS, SONKE, and STEPS co-organised a gathering of 25 video activists from Sub-Saharan Africa in Cape Town, South Africa. The gathering aimed to create a space for video activists to share experiences, network, inspire, learn from one another, and foster collaboration. The video activists and their organisations stayed connected through an African sub-network, to support their change-making work in an ongoing capacity.
First Latin America Gathering, Mexico
In September 2013, organisations from Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, El Salvador, and Nicaragua met for the first Latin America Video4Change gathering. Convened by SocialTic, the event enabled the sharing of information, resources, strategies, and best practices in the use of video for social impact. An ongoing Latin American network was formed, fostering regular exchange between these organisations, as well as project development and implementation of collaborative strategies across borders and boundaries.
First Global Convening, Indonesia
In June 2012, a global gathering of 13 Video for Change organisations was held in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Hosted by EngageMedia and WITNESS, this first convening demonstrated the breadth and depth of how video can be used to contribute to social change. The event sparked a number of collaborations and reinforced the importance of video in campaigning, advocacy, and social change. Most importantly, the meeting sparked the formation of the Video4Change Network.