Project's area of focus: Using media to accelerate social change, defend human rights and provide a platform for voice
Project Needs and Beneficiaries
Mainstream media in the developing world doesn’t give the poor the information they need, and it largely excludes their voices from its dialogue. Widespread illiteracy (30% in India) bars the utility of print publications (which also generally fail to address issues relevant to the poor), and often there is no TV. The internet – the great equalizer in the west – also requires literacy. Without information, the poor have no way to fight corruption or hold local elected officials accountable.
Activities
It empowers the poor with an articulate voice to come up with their own solutions to their problems. It creates platforms for community discussion. It diversifies the media by training the most excluded to produce professional media.
Expected Outcomes
With the creation of a Network of 100s of Community Video Producers, we can give a voice to 1000s of poor communities in the developing world and democratize the media. We can create sustainable business models for them to function as news stringers.
Project Message
The purpose of Community Media is not to show the bad that is happening in the world, it is to ask what you intend to do about it."
- Jessica Mayberry, Executive Director and Founder, Video Volunteers
Project Contact
Jessica Mayberry,
Founding Director
Video Volunteers C/O Temin and Company 750 Lexington Avenue 26th Floor New York, New York 10022
Tuvalu
1-646-505-8605
C/O Temin and Company 750 Lexington Avenue, 26th Floor New YorkNY10022 United States
+646-505-8605 Organization's Homepage
Organization's Mission
Video Volunteers is a social media network that leverages the power of media to expand and accelerate positive social change, empower communities, overcome illiteracy and provide a real platform for voice among marginalized people in the developing world. By developing innovative and sustainable media platforms for production and distribution, focused on the needs and requirements of the poor and voiceless, we empower communities to create and share their own solutions to rights violations.
Organization's Programs
Estalblishing Community Video Units in partnership with NGOs; running a program helping poor kids in Brazil favelas set up video businesses; running a Community News Service called IndiaUnheard where one community correspondent in every state in India is reporting on their issues for the web, their community, national and local media; created the VideoActive Girls model model of media training that has been shared with hundreds of NGOs and resulted in a toolkit; set up community radio stations.
Organization Statistics
Financial Statistics
Jessica Mayberry,
Executive Director
Founded in 2002
Employees: 12
Volunteers: 5
Other funding sources: Individuals, Foundations, NGOs, mainstream media, consultancies Religious Affiliation: None
Personnel Overview
Jessica Mayberry - VV Founder, Director
Jessica worked for three years in broadcast news at CNN and the Fox News Channel, and in documentaries for Court TV. "I started Video Volunteers because I saw that there was an unmet need for high quality videos, and also for training, within the community of social entrepreneurs.”
Stalin K - India Country Director
Stalin K. is a documentary filmmaker and human rights activist from Gujarat, India. He has directed 12 documentaries and has won several awards. He has designed over 15 rights-based campaigns and conducted over 150 trainings in participatory video, street theatre, radio and communications.
