Date: 26 – 30 June 2023
Location: Isivivana Centre, Khayelitsha, South Africa
Organisers: Project 90 by 2030, YouLead Initiative, Adaptation Network, Indigo
Participants: 10 participants, including 4 YouLead Warriors, 4 YouLead Alumni, and 2 YouLead Mentors
Activities:
The Mobile Film Making Workshop was a hands-on initiative aimed at equipping young people with the skills to document climate adaptation practices in their communities. Over five days, participants learned mobile filmmaking techniques, including shooting, editing, and interviewing. The workshop included practical sessions where participants filmed interviews and edited footage, as well as field trips to local community projects such as the Burundi Hub in Mfuleni. The goal was to showcase how communities adapt to climate challenges like heavy rains through innovative methods like elevated gardening.
Outcomes:
The workshop successfully empowered youth participants by teaching them valuable filmmaking skills, as well as deepening their understanding of climate adaptation. Three short films were created, each documenting community efforts in Mfuleni to adapt to the effects of climate change, such as elevated gardening to combat soil saturation caused by heavy rainfall. The participants also gained confidence in storytelling, technical filming, and editing, with the intention to continue refining their skills beyond the workshop. The films were showcased at a community viewing event in July, where participants received feedback from peers, parents, and community members.
Key Highlights:
- Skills Development: Participants learned how to film, edit, and structure interviews using mobile phones and editing apps like Kinemaster, a skill they can apply to future projects.
- Community Engagement: The workshop included visits to local community gardens, like the Burundi Hub, where participants filmed climate adaptation strategies in action.
- Real-World Application: The films created during the workshop highlighted innovative climate adaptation practices in Mfuleni and Khayelitsha, empowering the participants to tell important environmental stories.
- Community Viewings: The first screening of the films took place at the YouLead Lite event in July, where parents and community members recognised the value of filmmaking as a tool for youth development.
- Future Opportunities: Participants expressed interest in further training and opportunities to develop their filmmaking skills, with a second community viewing planned for August.
This workshop not only taught filmmaking but also gave participants a platform to engage with and document their community’s response to climate challenges, helping to build a generation of climate-conscious youth with the skills to share their stories effectively.
