WITNESS is pleased to announce a call for applications to participate in our inaugural Video Advocacy Institute (VAI).

The Video Advocacy Institute, our newest initiative and the first of its kind, is an innovative program that will train human rights defenders to successfully integrate video advocacy into their social change campaigns. The VAI will be held in association with Concordia University’s Communication Studies Program and Documentary Centre.

When: July 15 – July 27, 2007

Where: Montreal, Canada

For more information & the application form: http://www.witness.org/vai

Application Deadline: March 25, 2007

The VAI grew out of WITNESS’ resolve to meet the rising demand for training in the use of video for human rights and social justice advocacy. Over the last 15 years, WITNESS has worked to provide video equipment and training to human rights defenders across the globe. We have become experts in providing specialized instruction in video advocacy to the increasing number of NGOs and individual advocates who use digital media in their social change campaigns. These intensive trainings give activists the skills they need to bring unseen images, untold stories and seldom heard voices to the attention of the audiences who hold the power to create lasting change.

VAI participants will learn key video advocacy skills including how to:

· Plan the strategic use of video as a targeted tool for change in a human rights campaign, and apply this learning to their own work;

· Plan and shoot on Mini-DV video cameras, and learn the basics of editing;

· Make appropriate decisions on safety, security and consent;

· Craft effective advocacy narratives – ‘storytelling for action’;

· Distribute their video to key audiences;

· Use video as evidence; and

· Use online video for advocacy.

During this training there will be focused sessions to apply the learning to planning for a video project that participants will implement upon completing the VAI.

This training will provide an immersive introduction in video advocacy for a group of 25-30 dedicated human rights advocates from across the globe working on some of the most challenging human rights issues facing our world today. Specifically, the VAI is aimed at human rights activists that are:

· Staff members positioned within a human rights organization to develop a project during the VAI and to implement the project by completing production, editing and strategic distribution after the course; and

· Individual activists with a record of successful collaboration with human rights organizations.

If you or others that you know would be interested in participating in this training, please visit: http://www.witness.org/vai for detailed information and the application form. Should you have further questions about the VAI not answered in these materials, please write to us at: vai@witness.org.

Sincerely,

Sam Gregory

Program Manager Strategic Networks

and

Kelly Matheson

Video Advocacy Institute Coordinator

WITNESS uses video and online technologies to open the eyes of the world to human rights violations. We empower people to transform personal stories of abuse into powerful tools for justice, promoting public engagement and policy change. For more information please visit www.witness.org.