How Mediavision Academy is shaping the future of Uganda’s youth through Film, Television and Radio training

 

International Youth Day: How Mediavision Academy is shaping the future of Uganda’s youth through film, television and radio training

 

Written by:

Daniel Massamba Meboya, Corporate Communications Strategist

23 August 2023

Robert Nkambo and Annet Aloyo, director and director of studies respectively at Mediavision Academy, flanked with participants of Pearl International Film Festival workshop after a successful shoot of a short film – Location: Mediavision Academy, November 2021

 STORY HIGHLIGHTS

·         A 5-year Strategic Plan of Mediavision Academy highlights youth’s training in Film, Television, and Radio as the main focus of our activities.

·         Since 2014, Mediavision Academy has trained 105 young people.  We have been amazed by their eloquent testimonials highlighting the quality of content and qualify of the Academy’s curriculum.

·     In commemoration of International Youth Day, Mediavision Academy reaffirms its pledge to continue helping youth to meet their unique needs and expectations, and prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow.

International Youth Day (IYD) is celebrated every year on August 12 and it aims to raise awareness about the challenges and opportunities faced by young people worldwide.  The theme for IYD 2023 is "Green Skills for Youth: Towards a Sustainable World."

At Mediavision Academy, we acknowledge and recognize the rapid change in the cinema landscape in Uganda as we are part and parcel of all initiatives taken to drive forwards innovations in the film sector.  Providing high quality and hands-on training to young people remain our raison d’être.

Capacity strengthening initiatives of film professionals feature prominently in the agenda of the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC), a government regulatory body of the communications sector nationwide.   Mediavision Academy has been part of this move since its inception in 2014.  It has had the honor and privilege of providing training to more than 500 young people including women inside its Campus and other training sessions under the auspices of UCC and Uganda National Commission for UNESCO.

Zalwango Samalie, a female professional photographer now working for Ava Juliet Productions, has fond memories of being trained at Mediavision Academy where she acquired skills in photography, sound engineering, film production art, among others.  But photography is Samalie’s bread and butter.  Shortly after joining the Academy, she discovered photography and immersed herself in it with a passion.  “Photography is my art, and art is a journey, a long journey that keeps me busy learning something new and different”. Ava Juliet Productions specializes in creating new media art, film, television and storyline development for international soap projects, enabling viewers with recorded and live entertainment.

Samalie Zalwango - (source, Samalie's Facebook page)

With the continuous mentorship by the Academy Team, Wasswa Marvin Deo, a respected photographer and content creator, has grown from a photography business services to a video and film production house.  “There is no question about it – when I started getting down to business by founding Memory Hub Studios after completing my training at the Academy, I then realized how useful the training course really was.”

The commemoration of the International Youth Day coincides with the facilitation of a 12-week online training in filmmaking fundamentals for culture by Mediavision Academy.  Funded by the Uganda National Commission for UNESCO, 200 participants, including 76 women are being equipped with skills and knowledge of how to promote and protect cultural diversity particularly the development of Film and Audio-Visual sector.  The majority of whom are youth, from all parts of Uganda. 

As you will note, Mediavision Academy has so far made capacity-building and programs aimed at youth in the sectors of film, television and radio a banner for its activities.  Leveraging on its expertise in training, the Academy is tirelessly working to make its Vision a reality.   Alumni’ testimonials affirm the Academy’s zeal to achieve and help them to meet their unique needs and prepare them to become the leaders of tomorrow. 

Munene Immanuel, 21, a former student at the Academy, said: “Mediavision Academy is and remains a place where dreams come true.  I learned not only techniques required for making a good film, but I felt like my potential as a student in filmmaking had been unlocked.  My studies at the Academy have given me a whole new perspective of seeing things in an entirely differently way.  That experience has definitely ignited the creative bug in me which I am confident will take me a long way indeed.” 

Youth remain at the center of our daily activities and we can see how they are proud of attending courses at the Academy.  We are aware that there is still a long way to go when it comes to developing innovative curriculum in order to meet our students’ needs and expectations.  So far so good, our curriculum has been a “great success” according to our students who delivered testimonies after completing their required study programme.  Mediavision Academy’s activities are consistent with the principles of sustainable development goals championed by the United Nations.

In the next three to five years, Mediavision Academy hopes to attract an ever-increasing number of young females to join its full time (a one-year course) or its 6–12-week short courses in film, television and radio.  Unfortunately, it was found that girls’ enrollment in film schools over the last 10 years of film training, especially at Mediavision Academy is still very low.  For every 10 students enrolled, only 2 are female.  This is alarming and unconscionable.  “The Academy is working to explore options to address this challenge,” Robert Nkambo, founder and director at Mediavision Academy, said.

In celebration of International Youth Day, Mediavision Academy reaffirms its pledge that it will continue providing hands-on training to youth – men and women -- in shaping not only their own positive future, but also the future of the film industry in Uganda.  Animated mostly by young people, the film industry in Uganda continues to extend its national and international reach – and the youth are at the helm of these positive developments.

 

Youth at Mediavision Academy during a student's project.

 

(Editor’s Note) 

The History of International Youth Day?

 

The day was first proclaimed by the United Nations General Assembly in 1999, following a recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth in Lisbon, Portugal.  The goal of this day is to promote the participation of young people in decision-making processes at all levels, as well as highlights the importance of the youth in building a more peaceful and sustainable future. 

The day is also an opportunity to celebrate young people's achievements and advocate for their rights.

The UN mentions: “In 1999, in its resolution 54/120, the General Assembly endorsed the recommendation made by the World Conference of Ministers Responsible for Youth (Lisbon, 8-12 August 1998) that 12 August be declared International Youth Day.”  “The Assembly recommended that public information activities be organized to support the Day as a way to promote better awareness of the World Programme of Action for Youth, adopted by the General Assembly in 1995 (resolution 50/81),” it adds.