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0 viewsOne of the biggest contributing factors to violent protests is not having a ‘voice’ in impoverished communities to protect their human and civil rights and express their challenges and frustrations.
The Hillside Digital Trust has opened two community production units in Khayelitsha and Alexandra townships to fill this gap. Siyakhona was born during the 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa as part of Sony’s collaboration with FIFA on corporate social responsibility, and is implemented by Hillside Digital – a South African non-profit media development organisation. As part of the Siyakhona project they have trained youth to become citizen video journalists and community activists.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B6G-e9pLpCc&feature=youtu.be
Citizen journalists are mandated by their respective communities to research the root causes of their biggest challenges, produce call to action films as a tool to get the community to stand together, find effective solutions and seek support to drive social change.
After receiving basic training, Siyakhona Alexandra’s first call to action film was on the rats and pollution crisis in the township. The video not only convinced the community to join in a clean up campaign (900 volunteers a day over three days), but encouraged city officials from as far as Orange Farm and Soweto to join in.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3oU5MeeoPY&feature=youtu.be
Video journalists have regular meetings with City of Johannesburg’s Region E and heads of departments (including health & environment, PickitUp, Metro Police, stakeholder management, Roads, Water and others) to discuss real problems on the ground and how to solve them.
Under the banner of Siyakhona, City of Johannesburg have driven an intensive education roll out and brought in extra support to reduce pollution. Education seminars have also been held throughout the township, including the Helen Joseph women’s hostel on hygiene and waste management.
After meeting with the Ndunas’ (elders) of the hostels and Siyakhona, the department of housing went in to build doors and bathrooms for women, and city parks agreed to build children’s recreation facilities. Together they are also working to clean the Jukskei River. All these improvements are reported back to the community through their mobile cinema magazine shows.
image: Khayelitsha crew