Young women in the impoverished townships of Soweto, South Africa, are still being left at a disadvantage as a result of their gender. While both girls and boys in Soweto are vulnerable to the threats of drug use, gang violence, and HIV, young women do not have access to the training and technological resources that could allow them to enter male-dominated fields such as journalism and athletics.
Global Girl Media has recognized that while these disparities present serious challenges, they also represent an opportunity to empower young women to become agents of change for their communities. In preparation for the upcoming 2010 FIFA World Cup, GGM has organized a program called “KICK IT UP!” that will train 20 at-risk South African girls as journalists who will report on the competition.
This project will ensure that one carefully selected girl is able to participate in “KICK IT UP.” This young woman will be selected from among the 230 students enrolled in Teboho Trust, an after-school program dedicated to ensuring at-risk young people complete their education. It will specifically fund her enrollment in a specially designed Global Girl Training Academy during which the participants will be put through a rigorous curriculum, combining modules on the rudiments of sound and ethical journalism with hands-on training. The project will also enable the chosen participant to become part of one of GGM’s “News Bureaus,” teams of four of the prepared girls, who will create unique videos, blogs, new media and print content during the World Cup. This media will subsequently be distributed through GGM’s cutting edge website so that an international audience can learn of Soweto’s challenges and triumphs as told from the perspective of twenty young women.
KICK IT UP! will begin by establishing the Global Girl Training Academy, where a select group of 20 girls will be put through a challenging journalism program. This academy will pair the girls with seasoned broadcasters and journalists and train them in responsible, solutions-based journalism training. They will also be exposed to editing, story writing, web 2.0 basics, on-air media training, and opearting a HD digital video at the Global Girl Academy, based in Soweto, South Africa.
Then, during the World Cup (June 11-July 12, 2010) the Global Girl Team will be divided into 5 teams of 4 girls each (divided into broadcast, print, etc) who will then produce videos, blogs, new media and print content for digital upload and distribution on a wide range of topics including:
• World Cup 2010 Impact and Coverage
• Girls and Sports/Leadership Development
• Health, HIV/AIDS, Gender Justice and Reproductive
Rights
• Educational and Career Opportunities
• Cultural Identity, Music, and the Arts
All of these materials will be made available on GGM’s interactive website so that it can inspire and generate discussion among viewers. GGM will also be using its partnerships with The Press Institute among others to maximize the distribution of the girls’ reporting to on-line popular sites.
The internet and new media technologies have created unprecedented opportunities, opening a world of possibilities for education, communication and activism on a global scale. Yet these opportunities are still only available to those with the financial and educational resources necessary to participate. Global Girl Media has chosen to address this “digital divide” by supplying the equipment, education and support necessary to empower young women in Soweto's marginalized community with critical thinking, technical and leadership skills necessary to take part in what is arguable the world’s largest sporting event, the 2010 World Cup, that is to be held for the first time on the African continent this summer.
The girl who will be sponsored by this project will be selected from among students participating in Teboho Trust's educational support programs. She will be chosen according to her strengths in the following areas: spoken English, demonstrated interest in media and/or journalism, strong writing and creative skills, and in good standing within the program.
Once selected, this young woman will attend the Global Girl Academy. The academy's curriculum has been developed in partnership with The Press Institute, a four-year-old international NGO that uses journalism as a development tool in order to create strong, professional female reporters that can increase access to critical global issues from a female perspective.
Key parts of the 10-day curriculum will include:
• What makes a good story? The elements of
journalism.
• Production skills, including hands-on experience
with HD video camera and sound equipment,
lighting, including introductory postproduction
and editing
• On-air talent training.
• Exposure to cross platform digital technologies.
• Instruction in the rules of football, key teams,
players and participants in the 2010 World Cup.
During the World Cup, GGM will use its media connections with the Huffington Post, Alternet, CCMC PUSH Journal, Women’s Enews, Feministing, Jezebel, WorldPulse.org, teen.com, etc, as well as the official websites for ESPN, SuperSports Channel, FUEL TV, Soccerpages and FIFA’s official website to ensure the 20 participants’ coverage of the competition is maximized.
About Me: I am a senior in college, graduating this year! I have been studying Sociology and I am particularly interested in women and girls' empowerment and hope to focus on this topic in grad school as well as contribute to bringing this topic into everyday life.
FILM SCREENING PRAY THE DEVIL BACK TO HELL - May 3, 2010 at 6:30AM
Come learn more about women's empowerment in Liberia as well as women and young girls' activism occurring around the world.
May fundraiser -.
-, CA
Matthias K.
Berlin, Berlin
Danielle B.
Santa Monica, CA
May fundraiser -. donated to KICK IT UP! — Teboho Trust, Soweto! - 2 months ago visit the project
Matthias K. donated to KICK IT UP! — Teboho Trust, Soweto! - 5 months ago visit the project
Danielle B. donated to KICK IT UP! — Teboho Trust, Soweto! - 5 months ago visit the project
New CP added to KICK IT UP! — Teboho Trust, Soweto! - 6 months ago visit the project
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