After a fairly successful journey to Nairobi, I was driven to the camp by a friendly Kenyan by the name of David. We got chatting about the weather and the like however, things got tricky when we tried to converse over time; every question I asked, whether it be time estimated to the camp/time it took for the others to get to camp/how long some new road tax machines had been in place…was met by the same generic answer of “20 minutes”. I was then reminded that I’d probably need to get used to this – misunderstandings and miscommunication when training our communities and students due to inexperience of any teaching skills and especially in another culture. 

Yesterday was spent mostly making some collective decision making on the order our first day of training; which although successful took a few turns and alterations to reach a conclusion for a smooth running day. Emily and myself decided to take on the role of audacity and audio trainers – a big turnaround for me as I’d been working on video editing up until the trip.  We got a lot done, which was probably because it was just us two – no distractions (well, a few minor ones!).  We ended our session feeling fairly confident albeit a few glitches and have adopted a ‘we’ll be okay’ attitude. We’ve done the best we can with what we’ve got. Today we venture to our first training sessions and although feeling a bit apprehensive, I’m sure it’ll be just fine.

This was our first day in Nairobi teaching video skills to people, I was so exited to get started and meet the people we were going to be working with. We arrived at the UN which was a little scary because of the security, they had guns! When we got there we realised we had forgotten the flips which they were going to take away and film there b-roll with however this was quickly sorted as we had two cameras and 3 tripods as well as my flip and willies flip. But this did mean we were more pushed for time as we had to film the b-roll together. We began by hearing introduction speeches about social media, online engagement as well as what these workshops can achieve and how hey can help. We began by doing and ice breaker but instead of the “what makes you happy” we did what media skills do you have and your name, I feel this helped break the ice and got everyone to know each other. As there weren’t as many people there as we thought we all split into two groups of five both participants as well as us. We then began mind mapping ideas of issues they wanted to raise awareness about and the message they wanted to get across the main ideas were; culture, community, peace, marriage, Kenya, environmental management and religion. We explained how we wanted to touch on all subjects but any good documentary film has a main focus and point it would like to discuss through out. We discussed and decided on peace, marriage and cultural diversity as our title. We then wrote out our 3 interview questions and drew up storyboard whilst giving tips on what to do and how to do it, went through and selected roles, as well as discussing who they wanted to interview, they selected , two interviewees; Dennis and Christine but as Christine was not there we had to use someone new in our group; Stacy. We the. Went over all equipment and how to use it, I felt doing a mock interview with us helped them understand how to use it and what to do and what not to do during the productions stages. After finishing our storyboard we began filming b-roll which I feel related back to the topic well, we then discussed what we would need to do tomorrow so we were organised and on top of it as we were short on time.

It was the last day of our workshops and the pressure was on to finish this project. After only two hours sleep and a very early morning going before the rest of the group to crack on with editing I was feeling a bit fragile.

– Although the night before was very stressful a positive thing that I can take from a 3 hour editing session with Chaz and Taylor showing me how to do simple premiere pro tricks. I learnt a lot whilst we were editing. In a way they were training the trainers.

We spent the whole morning editing which was also tricky having about 11 of us around a computer but it all worked out. Unfortunately due to the fact that we were in such a rush to edit we didn’t get much time to give them tutorials. But HAKUNA MATATA….

We watched the videos after lunch and have a few words about what has been happening. I was so proud of our group as I feel they made such a huge effort and the video looked fantastic.

It is important to remember that it is not professional media editing it is community media. I think that negative feedback to these guys was really unfair as it is always important to highlight the good parts of people’s work not bring to the surface a very things that they can improve on. Especially as they are so passionate about their video and so proud.

Willis ended the session with a very motivational speech about a boy and a wise man. With the end of the story leading to ‘the future is in your hands’. Using media to talk about fundamental issues in communities. Hopefully the skills we taught these last few days will help create a wider community all familiar with video production, and that they will be able to teach them the skills they learnt.

Lucy and I spent the second half of yesterday working on the Stories From Our Cities exhibition. While Lucy pulled together two photos from each photographer and gave them captions. I wrote an introductory piece to go alongside a photo of Brighton at the opening of the exhibition. Whilst sitting in the hotel in Nairobi mapping idea around Brighton’s key features I was able to see now more than before, how contrasting the two cities would work. This made me think about something David had said to me on the walk through Nairobi; “in Kenya you walk where you want to go [not where the crossing takes you]”. The obvious difference here is the traffic. However this struck me as a further metaphor for the cultural difference. In the UK youths follow an education program strictly until we are around 18, in Kenya it is not so clear cut. The path your life might take a a Kenyan is fair more in your own hands. As Willice suggested with his ending note today, “…all I know is the bag is in your hands”. This concept is reinforced by the theme of our video; entrepreneurship. The short film presents the idea that Kenya’s youth unemployment situation is such that some youths are turning to entrepreneurship as an alternative option. By taking matters into their own hands these youths like our interviewee and entrepreneur; Antony Kimathe. Are driven to carve out their own path to success in a way that perhaps we might take for granted in the UK. This can also be linked to the larger goal of our trip; to help empower youths towards increasing employability.

Today was our last day teaching in NAirobi, we started off by showing the group what we had edited last night, we decided to go in early to get the best use of our time. After showing them what we had done we briefly explained how to do it, they all liked what we had done and we continued editing so they would be able to do some things aswell. However these things weren’t very big to the overall film so I feel a little disappointed that we couldn’t teach them as much as we could but in the little time we had I feel we went through a lot, especially in the filming stages specifically when teaching them about the different camera shoots, movements and frames. We then added the music, credits, titles, transitions, ect. As we were shirt on time we couldn’t add some things they wanted to for example George’s picture however we were able to add one of his pictures. Then after Maddy came to the rescue after more technically difficulty we began exporting it so we could put it on youtube. The screening of the films was fun and nice to watch back but it was blurry due to the way it had been exported so we said we would fix it at a later date and send them all the link on Facebook. I am so proud with my group and how well everyone did, everyone seemed please with the end result and I enjoyed working with everyone in my group, I feel the topic although potential sensitive in Kenya was one of the reasons we came and makes all the small mistakes worth while, if it can continue in this way people of all ages can voice their option and maybe the issues can be solved and in the future things can be changed. I really enjoyed the other groups film as well you could tell they worked hard and everyone had helped each other. I feel on doing these workshops I have learnt from them about life here and various cultures and I have learnt more about video through these workshops with some of the things raised by them and now in the future I know how to fix them.

Today we completed the workshop with Focus Youth Initiative. Chaz, Sarah and Taylor worked really hard with editing last night but we had some to finish this morning. Final touches (text, voice over, graphics) had to be made before we exported it and uploaded it to YouTube. This took longer than usual due to the amount of people in our group. Everyone had their own opinion which was positive as it showed how they were all involved and enthusiastic but it also meant that each decision was discussed which was time consuming. I decided to take a step back and let Maddy, Taylor and Chaz lead the editing… they did a great job!
After the videos were completed, all the groups got together and had a screening. It was so rewarding to see how proud everyone was of the work they had produced – especially Dennis. In Willices speech he raised the point that “it is comfortable not to change history but to repeat it”. The videos that we trained the students to produce are vechiles which will raise awareness to issues they are passionate about; their own contribution to changing history. Now that they have these skills they can develop them further, continue producing videos and also facilitate the ‘training the trainer’ approach by passing the skills on in their communities. 

Over the course of this workshop I was pleasantly suprised the personal development of the students. They either had no or very little video knowledge and now they have made a 3 minute documentary in only 2 and a half days. What particularly struck me was hoe they paid attention to detail – everything was planned extensively and reshot till they deemed it spot on. I was really impressed at how they set up the interviews, even considering where natural light was hitting the interviewees face. Their attention to detail made me re-assess my own approach to video, taking a leaf out of their book with my own work!

In reflection, this workshop has been really really fulfilling. Peter raised the point of how community media empowers people to have a voice,  their vision of the future and the workshop did exactly that. Dennis said how he is now able to make music videos for his wife and Bernard said how he can now make videos for his charity. It was fun and enlightening working with people from different cultures, learning from each other. I now feel prepared for the next workshop in Rongo!

We began by forgetting the tripod but quickly remembered them after we left, we also forgot to get a prize for the mistakes video quiz however im the end it all worked out. Yesterday started off very stressful as all the internet and equipment for me to play my ‘mistakes video’ was unable to work it and so this meant wasting time which we didnt have so we decided to move on which I am happy about but it is unfortuante they were unable to see what kind of mistakes to look out for. Our peace and marriage grouo then began filming b-roll of dennis, our directors wedding photos and all of us together having a good time, I feel these will both fit well in the final film. We theb began our interveiws with stacy and dennis who both decided to have opposote veiws on inter cultrual marriage however they dont feel this way they just wanted to show the audience how oppions vary. These both went well and ran smoothly which means we will find it easier to edit. We then began uploading footage to the computer but had some technical difficulty which was again wasting little time we had whilst doing this myself and david scripted and recorded the voice over in order to save time, however when maddycame to the rescue we were able to start editing whilst teaching them basics as we edited however as we had little time our team suggested to us they we edited when we came back in the evening, so we disscussed what they what like us to do and to save time do it and show them how the followong morning this made it alot quicker to do. myself, taylor and sarah then contiued editing by putting all the clips in order, cut out the interveiwer, chop bROLL,  ADDING the voice over in the right place,taking sound off broll ect we then made a list of everything we needed to do the following day. I feel we were then more prepared for the next day so ready to teach them and get it done with in the time we were allocated. I felt today that we couldve been more prepared but sometimes technical things happen which cant be helped but resulted in making me feel embrassed wheb we couldnt contiue or fix the problems however we managed to agree how to resolve the problem.

Today was a VERY long day, although very rewarding! I got woken up by a kiss on the hand by Rod in the morning. The other editing group left very early to do some filming in Nairobi. We all had a very relaxing morning and got on the coach at 9 to head to the hotel for a full day of filming and editing (although we forgot the tripod) After a few technology issues we started with our group mapping out our plan for the day.

They were all very exited to start and had thought of a lot of ideas over night. Some how our group had multiplied today which was a real challenge. Trying to manage sometimes 9 people with only 3 of us (as Lucy had been called away to plan Stories from our Cities) was actually a real challenge. We had to constantly have stuff for everyone to do which is hard when there is only one camera and one computer. The two interviewees were really impressive, the way they both made it their own and started planning through what they were going to say made it really special. What also impressed me was the way in which everyone took to their individual roles. It made filming a lot More relaxing as they took charge of the entire thing. We got loads of b roll sorted out and and all the interviews filmed just before lunch so that we can edit when we get back.

I found after lunch really challenging, all filming had been done as we had to start editing. I started off advising George and Stacey on creating a final scene in photoshop that shows peace. George was so fantastic he ended up teaching me.

We borrowed Angela’s lap top for the editing but it did not have the right software to support the footage so we had to use Peter’s. It took a very long time to get this all going and enthusiasm was beginning to slip. Practically trying to teach 8 people premier pro was always going to be a logistical nightmare. (It was rarer odd that the other group had 3 people whilst we had a total on 8 most of the time). As I am not too good at premier pro (like not at all) I felt like I was pretty useless for the afternoon which I really didn’t like. We were having so many technical problems that we didn’t manage to get ally of editing done at all. With realistically only two hours of time to edit tomorrow whilst trying to teach them at the same time, it didn’t look like we were going to get this completed and everyone was beginning to panic. We agreed that me, Taylor and Chaz would continue editing tonight and come in two hours early the following day to work on it.

When we got back to camp there was no time to relax. We took ourselves to Lucy and Maddy’s room and began editing. Whilst everyone was cracking into some wine :(. After over 3 hours of stressful editing we decided to call it a night….

To be continued.

After the struggles faced yesterday in the audio workshop, I was feeling better about training in the editing process especially after we successfully caught the podcast yesterday… That was until I switched on the dictaphone to find the file missing…

Where a problem arises a solution can almost certainly be found. This is important to note as Angela and I ran into a few small problems again today…Equipment and technological mainly. As we couldn’t find the podcast file Kevin, the only participant to show in the first half of the morning kindly took the reins decided to re- record the podcast entirely. He was kind and supportive even though the workshop was not going to plan. After he recorded his podcast, again the file failed to be located. Taking James’ ‘don’t ever give up’ notion into account We finally have a podcast saved, thanks to the five different sound recorders going at one time!

We were pushed for time today, explaining audacity had to be done in the blink of an eye, but Kevin who felt confident about the software said he would show the other participants how to use it, this pinpoints the ‘train the trainers’ idea that is a focus of the workshops, helping others to learn and become knowledgable.

Peter suggested that instead of editing together Angela and I would edit the podcast and so would the participants separately . This way we see how the issues in the podcast are seen through the eyes of students and of our community partners.

Today was a big learning process for me, I think I was able to adapt well to the challenging situation we found ourselves in and still deliver content and knowledge to the participants even though it was quick. As Chaz pointed out on the bus ride home ‘if you don’t make mistakes you can’t learn’. It’s about fostering the mistakes, reflecting on processes that didn’t work and finding a solution to these problems… And if there isn’t a solution… Adapt!

We managed to get a good breakfast in today before our last and final day conducting workshops in Nairobi! It was sad to leave but i feel like everyone made strong bonds with participants and i hope to have left a lasting impression. At the start of the day we sorted out exporting our video and uploading it to youtube as we had finalised everything it left some time to enjoy the last day and make a funny video. Throughout the rest of the day i felt like my editing skills came in particularly useful and i could help the other group with their editing. I felt very appreciated especially by the participants who were very grateful. We had some problems whilst editing mainly because we were rushed for time it was stressful but we all managed to pull it together with the help everyones knowledge. I do feel like because of the little time we had the participants didn’t gain as much editing training out of the experience as they could have. However that may have had to do with the size of the group. The end of the day we got to watch everyones videos on the screen it was brilliant to see how well the videos came out within the time we had. I feel like all the participants were so appreciative and proud by what they had done. And i hope that they went away with a better video understanding. On a final note Peter and Willis said some last words and it really drew into perspective the effectiveness of working as a team from people of all backgrounds to collaboratively learn. Not only did the participants take away something from us i also learnt a lot about their attitudes culture and the way they go about things. Hopefully from this service learning and training the trainers approach the community can go away to then pass on their knowledge and expertise to better the people of Kenya and their own personal development. As we said our goodbyes it just goes to show how working across cultures does work and is beneficial for both parties.