It’s been a week since members of the Video for Change network returned from the global convening in Mexico, and even as we’re still sorting through the great number of discussion notes and follow-up actions that came about, many of us are already connecting in working groups to see our plans through. And that would aptly describe the spirit of excitement, enthusiasm, and initiative at the second global meeting.
It’s been a week since members of the Video for Change network returned from the global convening in Mexico, and even as we’re still sorting through the great number of discussion notes and follow-up actions that came about, many of us are already connecting in working groups to see our plans through. And that would aptly describe the spirit of excitement, enthusiasm, and initiative at the second global meeting.
Hosted by our local partners SocialTIC, representatives from 15 different countries and five continents came together in a lush, green environment for a vibrant exchange of skills and strategies. Following the first gathering in Indonesia in 2012, the Mexico convening provided a much-needed update on where we were all at in using video for social change: What’s been working and what can be improved, from Latin America to Africa, to India and Southeast Asia.
The network also focused on looking at its recently published working paper, ‘Creating and Measuring Social Impact‘. While assessing the findings of the paper, network members presented key projects, created a massive table of available guides and other resources, facilitated focus group discussions based on various Video for Change approaches (such as participatory video, witnessing video and citizen journalism), and ran skillshares on topics ranging from digital security to mobile tools ― All over the course of four days! There was such an abundance of knowledge and experience in the room, the sharing continued over almost every meal and the nightly film screenings.
We closed the convening with a public day in Mexico City on Saturday, 18 July, where filmmakers, video activists and journalists from Latin America were invited to participate in a series of workshops and panels. The turnout and energy that afternoon was a perfect conclusion to all our efforts that week, and the network looks forward to deeper collaboration in the months ahead.
Founded in June 2012, the video4change network is a group of organisations using video to affect social change. Read more about its members, projects and activities here.