How to make media with communities and schools

These trainings teach you how to design and facilitate dynamic ‘community media’ events for social development and education. You can design your own training by selecting the modules that suit your needs the most or contact me to discuss a customized training package.

Also have a look at the companion modules to see if there are other components that would suit your training needs: The theories and practices of effective print media design  •  Designing and making effective public education media  •  Managing your media project effectively

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		What is ‘community media’? ‘What I hear I forget, what I see I remember, what I do I learn.’ Community media is media that directly involves members of communities in the planning, design, development. The types of media that can be made with communities is pretty much endless. In these training you can explore ideas, use your creativity, and design events that are appropriate for the communities where you work.
		Murals Community murals are ‘public art’. They can communicate shared statements, ideas, and aspirations. Stories that are commonly expressed through murals are often public education about social and environmental justice.  Community murals can give voice to people’s concerns. They involve communities in the creation of images that hold meaning for those that make them and their community. Community murals can also dramatically change the aesthetic qualities of public environments.
		Community wall comics Community wall comics are stories that are made by community members and then pasted up on walls and other public areas that create a lot of interest in communities. They can be silk screen prints or photocopies. Wall comics can be posted anywhere, are cost effective, and very easy to make. For more information about community wall comics world wide visit the World Comics Organization's website www.worldcomics.fi
		Garbage in – art out When we recycle, we make a new product out of waste materials. This saves resources like trees. It also saves landfill space and the money needed to get rid of trash. Using solid waste to make art is also a form of recycling. This can be done by teachers, artists, and community facilitators, when they choose to see ‘wastes’ as a valuable source of free art materials. This helps save the environment, and provides resources for dynamic and fun creative activities in the community.
		Local community art projects Throughout the world, traditional media such as poetry, proverbs, songs, stories, dances, and plays have been used to share knowledge and information and provide entertainment. They are used to exchange and share knowledge and disseminate strategies. These traditional communication methods can also be used to facilitate learning and behavioral change. Traditional media can be made by inviting local artists to a communication workshop. Participants can then work together with them to produce songs, dances, stories, plays, etc. The results can be integrated into campaigns through radio, visual materials, drama and print media.
		Community media events (screenings, shows, exhibitions etc) If you want to make a good impact with the participants at a community media event, it will take more than just showing a film and doing a question and answer session afterwards. You need to present the issues and most importantly engage the audience.  Conducting discussion groups before and during the event and inviting community members to contribute to the planning and implementation can help a lot. The target audience will have good ideas about how to make the event as successful as possible.