Amplifying young people’s voices on local and global issues
If you would like to tell a story about something that matters to you, what better way than on film? That is the premise behind a new initiative from GSMA and UNICEF, which aims to enable young people around the world to use mobile devices creatively and make short films documenting issues that matter to them.
The pilot for the project, supported by Vodacom, took place in South Africa in late 2019. 10 students took part in a three-day workshop that gave them the tools and techniques to develop their own stories using mobile phones. Filmmaking experts from UNICEF, including a UNICEF Africa Generation Unlimited youth reporter, helped the young people to plan and create powerful films on issues such as discrimination and gender-based violence. As well as getting hands-on experience with digital storytelling, the workshop participants learned about project management and teamwork.
Many of the young people at the Johannesburg workshop commented on mobile being the most important means of communication for their generation and they were passionate about its power to affect change. As one participant, Celiwe Shivambu, said, “I can bring the voices of young people where I come from and tell their story.” GSMA and UNICEF are currently creating materials to help mobile operators run their own digital storytelling workshops in 2020 and beyond.
