Films are an important and powerful tool for appealing to people’s emotions as they reach the highest domains of learning. Film combines audio and visual with motion, making them appealing to the eyes, ears and emotions.
They are able to explain a lengthy and complex concept in a condensed and simplified manner making it easy to comprehend. They also offer the viewers a unique opportunity to witness things happening as if they are happening now in the viewer’s presence. As such, films are a powerful tool that can help learners understand and access the world.
Amara Conservation uses conservation film to impart conservation knowledge to the rural folks. This is done by the use of mobile film unit vehicle that takes film to where people are thus taking message out to the people. Many of the rural areas where Amara Conservation shows films don’t have electricity supply thus the residents have no exposure to film of any kind. The mobile film unit offers the only opportunity for some communities to view films. Lack of television and other avenues for films make our mobile film unit very popular with the community, some walk far distances to get a chance to see a film. Also for the few who have access to TV in rural areas, wildlife/conservation information is very rarely available.
Our mobile film unit uses environmental film made by African Environmental Film Foundation. These films are made for the people of East Africa, narrated in local languages specifically to teach people about wildlife and critical environmental issues. The AEFF films make reference to local contexts and issues that local community members can easily associate with. When it’s known that a film unit is arriving, folks will walk for miles. We show films in schools in the daytime and villages at night; holding in-depth discussions before and after films opens minds and doors to change.