--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)* - APCNewsFlash II - December 2001 - --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- WOMEN'S VOICES - A VIDEO INITIATIVE TO GIVE POOR WOMEN A VOICE IN PUBLIC POLICY MAKING IN NAIROBI, KENYA - WINS THE 2001 APC BETINHO COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE BUENOS AIRES, ARGENTINA -- Redeemed Village and Mathare 3B are two huge slums surrounding Nairobi. Poorly constructed mud, carton and rusting iron sheet shelters crowd together along twisted narrow lanes, which serve as open drains. Water and electricity are scarce. Residents are seriously affected by violent crime, illegal drugs and alcohol, HIV/AIDS and unemployment. "Women's Voices", a project of the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG), set out to talk to the women living in these neighbourhoods to ask them how they felt they could most effectively get involved in the public policy debate on poverty; an area where women's voices were seldom heard. They came up with an unexpected use of technology. Raising funds to purchase their own digital video equipment, including old and borrowed Betamax cameras, the women learnt scripting, shooting and editing and how to present their communities by showing rough-cuts and recording opinions and asking for contributions to the story and the narratives. Read more: http://www.apc.org/english/betinho/2001/bet_winner.htm The prize winner has also been covered by BBC Online. See: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_1697000/1697588.stm and webcast at: http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/technology/newsid_1478000/1478157.stm --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- APCNewsFlash is a way of keeping our community updated on our activities when other commitments mean we cannot produce a full bulletin. Watch the next APCNews in January for detailed reports on all of these activities, and more... In the meantime, if you require more information, including photos, please contact khiggs@apc.org.