The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGs) and the Dove Self-Esteem Project is a unique partnership to empower a generation with the freedom to be themselves.
Through this project, we brought together 15 young women with no filmmaking experience to share their thoughts and ideas on advocacy using the medium of film.
Working with the 15 young women was a unique and inspiring opportunity. They brought so much of their own individual perspectives, struggles and triumphs to the two-week workshop, which meant their work was rich and personal.”Anna Maguire, BFI Course Director
The training was devised to meet both WAGGGS and Dove objectives for the Young Women’s Advocacy Forum (YWAF), an initiative that supports a network of young women who have participated in a WAGGGS programme to focus on advocacy.
Our key objectives included equipping young women with the skills to contribute to global decision making, advocacy and change through a range of filmmaking and digital communication skills, and helping them to raise the visibility and awareness of issues affecting young women.
We developed a bespoke course which focused on transferable filmmaking skills alongside a greater understanding of the role of moving image media in advocacy and influencing behaviour change. Distribution was also central to the training, with the young women learning how to share their campaigns inside and outside of their communities.
It has really impacted my life. It has given me an opportunity to view things in a different perspective.”Chifundo, WAGGGS training participant
Delivering the training online gave them the unique experience of working with other Girl Guides from across Europe, Africa and America. They collaborated in conceiving, writing, shooting and editing a group short film, alongside independent campaigns focused on their own passions and areas of interest for their advocacy work.
After an intensive two-week online training programme, the group were offered additional mentoring to help them produce their final campaign films.
I would never have thought that I could use film and video for my advocacy project and, even if I had, I wouldn’t have had the skills required for filmmaking. Now, I am looking at the minute details of every video I watch: the shots, cinematography, sound and editing.”Riju, WAGGGS training participant