Africa and Representation A Chat about Development and Representation Monday, April 8th, 2013
Agenda Disclaimer Purpose of Meeting What is EWB? What is R2EP? Open floor for reactions Examples of other campaigns: Oversimplification Knee-jerk Reactions Celebrity Involvement
Disclaimer Positive space Respectful space Please be mindful of your language Speak your truth No one campaign/organization is being targeted or highlighted None of us are experts
Development and Representation The aim is to get into the habit of critically examining the stories that we are being told every day. There are not always perfect answers and solutions. Based on this you can then build your own alternative story. How do campaigns tell the stories of Africans? How do our ideas about helping manifest themselves? What effects do they have? Are they the effects we want?
Development and Representation Stereotypes are not always negative, but ones about Africa certainly seem to be. What are some of the stereotypes that you find common in campaigns about development in Africa? A common perception about Africa -Maneo and I will write down on a blackboard and flip chart.
What is Engineers Without Borders? -Before we discuss the Run To End Poverty campaign and in particular the marketing, I am going to give a brief overview of Engineers Without Borders so that we are all on the same page and of the organization and the work we do. -EWB Canada is a national organization whose ultimate goal is to alleviate poverty in Africa through systemic change and by working with and investing in the people who will create this change, in Africa and in Canada. There are 27 student chapters and 7 city networks located across Canada. More specifically, our work in Africa takes place in five countries: Ghana, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Malawi, Zambia. We have ventures in all of these countries …. Water and Sanitation, Business Development Services, and Agriculture Value Chains are some examples. -EWB has six core values which are exemplified and embodied in many different ways.
What is Engineers Without Borders? -EWB has six core values which are exemplified and embodied in many different ways. -these six values are shown here and they are mostly self explanatory -our bottom line is that `We put dorothy first”
A Discussion about R2EP
Open Floor For Discussion
Development and Representation Celebrity Involvement Oversimplification Knee-jerk Reactions Celebrity Involvement
Development and Representation Oversimplification Knee-jerk Reactions Celebrity Involvement
One Million T-Shirts http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bYZFyzmyCRE
Development and Representation At what point does simplifying become harmful? Case Study: Dominic Ongwen
Development and Representation What do you think about how this issue has been framed? Is there an appropriate balance between Attention and Nuance?
Development and Representation Oversimplification Knee-jerk Reactions Celebrity Involvement
Development and Representation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2ne3QvLtrk
Development and Representation Celebrity Involvement Oversimplification Knee-jerk Reactions Celebrity Involvement
50 Cent and Somalia http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzLvi4K9RGI
Development and Representation What do you think?
What about the positive?
Development and Representation http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJLqyuxm96k
Development and Representation Thank You!