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2003 Project News |
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One of our key projects over the past year has been the Mobile Film Unit. Thanks to proceeds from our 2002 fundraising events, we were able to acquire the necessary equipment - portable projector, video player, speakers and a portable generator - to show educational films to the rural people of Kenya. The films are produced by the African Environmental Film Foundation, and are geared to local audiences.
 A rapt audience |
They are presented either in English or Kiswahili, depending on the audience. We were able to show these films to over 7,000 people on our first tour, which took us through Naro Moru, Nanyuki and the Lewa Conservancy, Ol Malo, Kirimun and Loldogichek. The films were shown in schools, churches, outdoors, and in manyattas, by hanging the screen either inside a building, from a tree, or from the roof of our vehicle (see photos). Although we knew before we began the project that this would be an effective educational tool, we were astounded by the enthusiasm wherever we presented the films. Audience turnouts at each venue were impressive - in many places we did multiple showings to enable everyone to view them.
 When a building or tree is not available, the screen is hung from the roof of the rover |
An amusing example of just how enthusiastic people were about these showings: Half way through a showing of "Wanted Dead or Alive" in an isolated village on the Il Ngwesi Group Ranch in Northern Kenya, some car lights approached in the dark. This is EXTREMELY unusual, as no one lives for miles and miles around, and those that do, do not have vehicles. Some men got out of the car and greeted us with big smiles saying they had come to see the film. We apologised, explaining the film was nearly over, to which they replied that it didn't matter, they'd seen it when we were at Lewa Downs a few days earlier, and just wanted to see it again. They were employees of Lewa Conservancy and had driven from Lewa, which is at least 2 1/2 hours drive!
 Lori Bergemann, non-union projectionist, plying her trade |
Discussions following the films made it quite clear that people throughout Kenya are eager to have the opportunity to learn more about conservation and environment, and to participate in solutions to local issues, be they water problems, poaching and snaring, deforestation… people need to have information, and these films are brilliant in what they convey. They are not only informative, but are also entertaining and very pertinent to the lives of rural people.