On location in Stung Treng – Filming a case study for UNICEF’s Generation Future Programme
It’s always good to get out of Phnom Penh on assignment and working as an NGO videographer on an assignment for UNICEF was no exception.
I’d made a video case study about Panha just as she started started a role as a team leader as part of the Code for Girls project.
It was always the plan to make a follow up video of Panha to see the progress she had made over the
Panha spoke about the new skills she had learnt. ‘Now, I can use code in my designs
to make all kinds of models,’ she said.
We also interviewed Lida, Panha’s IT teacher. She spoke about the progress Panha had made.
‘It makes me very happy to see Panha undergoing such a positive transformation. She has gone from a girl with basic typing skills to a girl who is confident in writing code,’ she said.
Panha also spoke about the training she had provided to her team members.
‘Over the past 6 months, I have trained my team members in STEM subjects. We’ve learned about using a 3D printer and coding,’ she said.
Chaily, one of Panha’s team members was very positive about the training Panha has given her.
‘Panha has helped to improve my drawing skills, and she’s improved my leadership
and teamworking skills,’ she said.
Panha has had to overcome difficulties to provide the best training she can.
‘Even though I’m a very shy person. My confidence has improved,’ she said.
Panha plans to set up a dedicated STEM room at her school and wants to study computer science at university. She has even inspired Chaily to pursue a university course in civil engineering.
I wish both Panha and Chaily the best of luck in the future. It’s important that increasing numbers of girls enter the STEM sector as they are currently underrepresented. Hopefully they can both continue to be role models and inspire other girls to pursue their goals.
Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any video projects you’d like to discuss.
Collaborating with the EU as a videographer on a range of projects
It was great to collaborate Landell Mills and the EU as a videographer on a range of projects including Pedal for the Planet, Erasmus + and Radiation Monitoring.
Pedal for the Planet
Pedal for the Planet: It is Time to Change Gears on Climate is an EU intitiative to promote cycling in Phnom Penh and the rest of Cambodia as a whole.
As a keen cyclist myself and someone who makes an effort to live in a sustainable way, it was great work as a videographer on this project.
Having spent COVID in Phnom Penh, it was great to see more and more locals taking up cycling.
Hopefully this kind of event will guarantee that this trend continues and the perception of cycling evolves from being seen as a form of transport for people who can’t afford a motorbike or car to being seen as a green, healthy leisure activity.
Erasmus + in Cambodia
The Erasmus + programme is close to my heart as 2 of my siblings are alumni. It was great to work as a videographer on a couple of videos highlighting the experiences lecturers and civil servants who have benefitted from the scheme and students who want to study in Europe.
It’s a great opportunity for lecturers and students to study and live in Europe. Hopefully this will be an enriching experience both personally and professionally and when people return, they’ll be able to share their experience and implement some of the things they’ve learned to develop the education system here.
Radiation Monitoring
The production of the video was a collaboration between Pixel Peers, MME and myself. MME have their own videography team and supplied footage of the radiation monitoring early warning systems being installed in a number of locations across Cambodia.
Pixel Peers then provided the motion graphics and I edited the video.
There were 2 iterations of the video. One was shown at the launch of the project. I then covered the inauguration as a videographer and cut in images and speeches to produce a second version to be distributed online.
Working with MME was a pleasure. It’s a dynamic, forward-thinking ministry who are doing some great work.
You can see more examples of my work for the EU here and more examples of my documentary work here.
On Location in Stung Treng with UNICEF – NGO filmmaker on a case study
While filming an overview video for Generation Future, part of the assignment was to work as an NGO filmmaker to focus on Panha, a girl who joined the Code for Girls programme to work as a student volunteer.
Code for Girls is a project for girls to to learn about coding and engineering, which are both STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) subjects.
It’s important to encourage girls to participate in STEM subjects as they’re often seen as subjects more suited to boys.
‘Most of the time, girls’ parents don’t let them study STEM subjects,’ says Panha.
‘After completing high school, I’d like to go to university. I’d like to study IT or engineering,’ she adds.
Panha has been interested in robotics since she was young and Code for Girls is a great opportunity for her to learn more.
‘I’ve been interested in this since I was 10. I found out about it on YouTube. There are so many things to watch,’ she says.
‘It’s predominantly men who make robots, but I think women can make them as well. If male students can study IT, why can't girls?’ she adds.
This has been a great opportunity to learn new skills.
‘The most interesting part was drawing a 3D model on the computer. After creating our designs, we got to print them on a 3D printer. I’m really happy, because I’ve never done anything like this before,’ she say.
Over the coming months, Panha will work with her project leaders and peers to train other students as part of the project.
‘I’d like to be able to provide training for girls like me. to improve their skillset and for them to
understand how to put what I teach into practice,’ she says.
‘I would like to encourage all girls to be confident in studying STEM subjects. They can be role models for the next generation of girls to look up to,’ she adds.
I look forward to catching up with Panha in a few months’ time, when we’ll be making a follow up video to see the progress she’s made and how she’s managed to train and empower other girls in her community.
You can read more about the other Generation Future video I made here.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch if you need an NGO filmmaker to work on any upcoming projects
Veasna's Story - Working as an NGO videographer on a case study for VSO
This is the second case study I made on assignment as an NGO videographer for VSO.
The video tells the story of Veasna and the positive impact VSO’s RECOVER project has had on her livelihood.
As part of the project, Veasna received agricultural training and financial support to improve her growing facilities.
Held in the community with other vegetable growers the training shows Veasna best practices about what to grow, how to grow it and pest control.
Veasna has used the financial support she received to construct a net house for growing higher value crops.
VSO have also set up agricultural cooperatives. This gives the vegetable growers additional selling power as the cooperative can sell larger quantites direct to market.
They sign contracts to guarantee fair prices for their vegetables and a constant source of income.
A storage facility has also been built in the community so the vegetable growers can store their vegetables to cut down on wastage and to be able to control the sale of the vegetables they grow to the market.
It was great to see the positive relationship Veasna had with Ravuth, the trainer, and how she is looking to expand her growing activities in the future so she can support her young family.
Below is the final video:
And here’s the shorter version I made for social media:
On Assignment as an NGO videographer for VSO
I was contracted by the NGO VSO to work as a videographer to produce 2 case studies to highlight their RECOVER project.
The RECOVER project, funded by the EU, is a technical vocational education and training programme (TVET) designed to help people in rural communities recover after the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is important to provide viable livelihoods for the almost 75 percent of people in Cambodia living in rural communities, to alleviate poverty and to prevent people having to migrate for work.
This video tells the story of Thavy. Thavy worked in South Korea, but when COVID-19 hit, she wanted to return home to be with her family.
Thavy enrolled in an agroprocessing course run by VSO where she learnt to make banana chips, which she now sells in her shop to supplement her income.
The chips are a healthy snack enjoyed be people in her village. The TVET training has taught Thavy valuable entrepreneurial skills. She’s looking at adding new flavours and expanding her product line and it allows her to live at home and look after her elderly mum.
Here’s the final video:
As part of the project, I also made a shorter version of the video for social media, which hopefully expands the reach of the campaign.
You can see more examples of my NGO videos here. Don’t hesitate to contact me if you would like to discuss any NGO video projects.