VIDEO VOLUNTEERS

Advocates for policy and governance improvements by producing video documentation that leads to corrective action by government officials; 125 officials have taken action in response to videos exposing corruption or poor governance. Creates practical guides for communities to monitor legislation such as the Right to Education Act and document forced evictions.

Conducts community-led data gathering to close data gaps in rural India through a national network of local researchers and publishes research reports on topics including health crisis preparedness, food security, gender-based violence, women's property rights, and social attitudes. Published eight research reports between 2016 and 2021 on community voice and related outcomes.

Operates a grassroots video news agency composed of community-based correspondents who document stories from marginalized communities in India, distributing these stories to mainstream and online audiences through media partnerships, press releases, e-newsletters, conference presentations, and global screenings. The organization sources thousands of video content pieces from marginalized communities across hundreds of geographies.

Operates with 248 currently active community correspondents and a network of 200 correspondents across 170 districts in 17 Indian states, providing training and publishing multiple guides on mobile journalism, video production, data collection, maternal health reporting, and documentation of patriarchal practices. Co-developed a media empowerment toolkit for adolescent girls and supports 100 social movements and NGOs in sharing their stories globally.

Engages 180,000 community members in taking action related to video content, including organizing gender discussion clubs to facilitate community conversations about gender issues and using screening guides to promote dialogue.

Produces video reports that lead to tangible community improvements, with one out of every five videos resulting in a problem being solved and 3.5 million people benefiting from solutions generated through video reporting. Documented issues include lack of basic amenities, deteriorating infrastructure, and health center improvements.

Trained youth in São Paulo, Brazil to establish video businesses, trained women in self-help groups to use video for empowerment assessment, and provided technical assistance on media projects to 17 NGOs across six countries between 2003 and 2005.