In December 2006, with support from the United Nations Children’s Fund (Unicef), six persons were selected to represent Guyana at the International Documentary Film and Kids and Docs Festivals and media workshop in Paramaribo, the capital of Suriname. The festival also coincided with the Global Launch of Unicef’s International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) 2007 under the five-year theme, ‘Unite for children, Unite Against AIDS’.The delegation included XChangers Shabbir.Z.Ali and Justim Mounter who were representatives from the Ministry of Culture, Youth and Sports; Andrea Bryan and Vidya Bijlall of the National Communications Network (NCN); Lomeharshansham Lall of the Varqua Foundation and Joel Joseph of President’s College.
The Kids and Docs Festival was held at the Venezuelan Institute in Paramaribo and included a series of television, radio, print and rap workshops. These sessions allowed youth from within Caricom to actively access resources geared to assist in youth expression, with the aim of developing similar programmes within their respective countries.
Participants also viewed documentaries about children at the Backlot Film Festival and were encouraged to produce their own One Minute Films facilitated by Digital Playground, a Dutch company that provides child-friendly software. Children were given the technical skills to think in pictures and sound. The software uses only a digital camera and usually broadens the imagination of its users.
On the final day, samples of video production produced during the workshops were shown and members of the Guyana delegation were actively involved in exhibiting what was learnt.
After this enlightening experience, having returned to Guyana, we asked ourselves “What can we do in our country?” This is how Youth Media Guyana was formed. Armed with new skills and knowledge, we started to plan; to dream of a Guyana where youth are given media access to express themselves.
We now produce a monthly 11 minute television news bulletin for youth by youth, highlighting issues that affect young people in Guyana. This is patterned after Suriname’s 10 Minutes. YMG also produced a 40-minute production for ICDB 2007 under the theme "The World We Want"
We also hope to expand by producing newspaper supplements, radio programming and developing a multi-media web page, using all accessible media. This blog is just the first of many steps.
Our ultimate goal is to establish a physical media centre where young people can freely access the resources to maximize their creative potential. The purpose of our blog is to document our journey as we chart this new frontier.
We now produce a monthly 11 minute television news bulletin for youth by youth, highlighting issues that affect young people in Guyana. This is patterned after Suriname’s 10 Minutes. YMG also produced a 40-minute production for ICDB 2007 under the theme "The World We Want"
We also hope to expand by producing newspaper supplements, radio programming and developing a multi-media web page, using all accessible media. This blog is just the first of many steps.
Our ultimate goal is to establish a physical media centre where young people can freely access the resources to maximize their creative potential. The purpose of our blog is to document our journey as we chart this new frontier.
Andrea Bryan - YMG
