Due to the intensity of this trip’s workload and the fickle nature of Internet connectivity I start this section of the blog with one day left before we return to the UK. In fact we left the Maasai Mara a few hours ago and aare now heading back to Nairobi and Upper Hill Campsite for a well earned hot shower, hot meal and a drink. I will continue to blog in date order but before I report on our Kibugat adventures let me acknowledge just how amazing my 3 students have been. Hollie Daley, Abi Wyatt and Emma Fearnley have been incredible. They have worked so hard, taken everything in their strides, have understood what we are trying to achieve and have shown a fantastic committment. 3 quite wonderful young women who are a credit to themselves, their families and loved ones and the University of Brighton.

Ok back to Kibugat. The first full day was Wednesday, which we put over to preparing the worksopmaeterials and testing the equipment.The idea in Kibugat was originally to  work with a number of youth from each of the following tribes – Kalenjin, Luo and Kisii. As it turned out we had more KalenjIn or Kipsigis (sub-tribe), 2 KisIi,  1 Kikuyu and 1 Meru – remember we had worked with the Kikoyu in Ruiru. Many of  these young people appeared pai fully shy at first, especially through the ‘theoretical’ elements of film production in the first session. However, as soon as the girls got them working with the equipment, e.g. how to put up and use a tripod, their shyness evaporated and they started to enjoy themselves.

After an introduction to the principles of storyboarding and question development, he students ran participants through the different types of shots they might consider using and then ran hands-on sessions with the Flip cameras they were to use for shooting their documentaries. The next day began with some practice vox pop practical sessions in which the young participants put their new knowledge into practice. Once everyone had had a go and was confident with what they were doing, roles were assigned and the groups serious business of shooting the film in a way that refelcted the views they wished to portray commenced. Unfortunately, the editing software problems encountered in Ruiru were to haunt  us throughout this trip but we believe we have a workaround that might meet everyone’s needs. In the same way that Ruiru agreed to work on after we left so did the youth  attending in Kibugat. In the meantime we would edit the footage and compare and contrast with the local young people before undertaking the outreach aspects of the project – showing the finished films in various tribal villages and stimulating dialogue in order to promote  peace through cultural understanding.