As media communication becomes ever more sophisticated and influential in the development of Western societies, the disparity between first and third worlds has never been starker. Economic wealth has divided the globe for centuries; solutions to solving debt and poverty mired by politics, colonialism, religion and corruption. However, there is no such reason as to why the technological gulf cannot be stemmed.
Post-based ‘Cash for Mobile’ schemes enable unused handsets to be reused in the third world. Why can’t the same principle be applied to computers, monitors, motherboards, mice, keyboards, digital cameras and wire? Without these parts and tools, any chance of real technological infrastructure being implemented in developing countries seems all the more unlikely. It’s a simple case of supply and demand.
To be able to create ‘meaning’ that can be quickly shared and duplicated across the globe (I.E. media products such as photography, film, art and writing) people of the third world have little chance of competing economically in the future.
Therefore, it warms my heart to see organisations like Winchester-based Citizen Camera going to Uganda and teaching children there photography and film-making methods. As the video below details, their brief, but ultimately beneficial workshops enable these Ugandan children – many of whom have never even touched a camera before – to create their own meaning, to tell their own story.
This short piece by the children of Sabina House, is an enriching watch. The material within is not completely alien to me, after all, I’ve seen comic relief appeals many times. However, it is refreshing to imbibe their world, their experiences and life without emotionally-charged charity messages blurring my understanding.
So as I sit here in Southampton, blogging on my Dell workstation, I can watch and appreciate Ugandan life through the eyes of the children who live there. I only hope for more initiatives like this.
Watch the Sabina House film here
Many thanks to Mr Karin Stowe.
Kristian
Welcome To The Fold 