A joint workshop bringing together facilitators from the Arid Lands Information Network (ALIN) and facilitators from Media Focus on Africa Foundation (MFAF) was recently held in Nakuru. This follow-up workshop aimed at discussed and implementing the collaboration between ALIN and MFAF in preparing short films to project the voices of people living in the arid lands on the forthcoming elections.

ALIN is an information exchange network that works with volunteers interested in supporting the development of communities through disseminating information using various avenues including the internet.

ALIN volunteers have partnered with MFAF to make short films using the new technology 3G N73 NOKIA video phones that can record and upload one to two-minute films through the readily available Safaricom network onto the internet (www.skoeps.com).

This second workshop in Nakuru workshop brought together twelve participants, which included two facilitators from Media Focus on Africa Foundation (MFAF). It was an opportunity to assess the work of the five initial video phone reporters and highlight their challenges and showcase their achievements.

Participants addressed the technical challenges faced in developing short films and compared notes on areas for further improvement in improving their skills. The earlier trainees were able to induct and pass their knowledge and experience to the new volunteers who were due to start shooting films.

During the workshop, additional phones were handed to these new video reporters to increase the content and participation of more ALIN volunteers and their communities as Kenya prepares to vote in December.