A few months ago, Jay Dedman posted a message on the videobloggers list that he was moving and had a box of Vloggercon T-Shirts. At the Sharing Foundation, we are always on the lookout for t shirts and other items to bring over, so I asked if I could have them. Jay Dedman sent the box of leftover Vloggercon T-Shirts from 2006 and they were hand carried over the Cambodia and presented to the college students being sponsored by the Sharing Foundation.
Now, next step is to get a couple of cameras, some help with skill transfer, and start a video blog from Cambodia. It will take some time to pull together because I want it to see it be sustainable. stay tuned.
This is about the coolest thing I have ever seen! Thank you. I love how everyone is barefoot. My kinda folk!
Posted by: cheryl | June 05, 2007 at 01:06 AM
Beth - I would love to help teach videoblogging there. If you (or your generous non-profit and corporate friends) can arrange help with some of the expenses, I would be there for sure.
Carl
Posted by: Carl Weaver | June 05, 2007 at 02:43 PM
Beth,
An idea for sustainability---Have whoever gets the camera in Cambodia make a business out of shooting photos. Lots of people need photos, but can't afford a camera.
As part of the deal, whoever gets the camera agrees to upload a video a month or something....
Just a thought.
Posted by: jonny goldstein | June 05, 2007 at 03:10 PM
You know by now that I'm not tech-savvy, so take this with a grain of salt.
Something you can take at face value is that you're one of the best teachers on the Internet!
I saw "video blog from Cambodia" and bells went off in my head. I concern myself with a community organization in Uganda and have been thinking a lot recently about how appropriate video is for developing many-to-many communications. One reason is that many in the target audience are not literate--don't have electricity or think one wit about the Internet. Video and audio are ways to reach them in their own language. (I think the capacity of --Pods and MP3 players to be hooked up to a little transmitter so programs can be listened to on any radio nearby very handy.)
As far as video's go, the connection speeds in Uganda make uploading to YouTube or some place cumbersome. However the large audience that videos often receive make it worthwhile for organizations to post videos even if they are sent on disc to be uploaded abroad. Videos are a way to take the Internet to places it's never gone before. Great for training and story telling.
Here's one thought. Have you considered inexpensive cameras like Flip ? The simplicity seems to me to have real advantages. The shots are saved as separate clips which can be dragged to a storyboard. I think that's instructive for learning to make videos that strangers will want to watch--as opposed to home movies.
I so look forward to hearing more about this V-blogging adventure. Have you considered applying for the Rising Voices Grant?
Posted by: John Powers | June 05, 2007 at 08:24 PM
this is awesome.
As you guys say, now its time to get them cameras and teach them how to record their lives.
Its people like you Beth that really help build these bridges.
Posted by: jay dedman | June 07, 2007 at 12:37 PM