Reflection

This CT project was all about what inspires us the most. At the beginning of term 2, Mrs Swain showed us a presentation on the topic that she finds inspiring. From here on it was our turn to display our inspiration into a format that would be easily presentable and attractive for the viewer. In addition to this we had to create a blog that would follow the steps and procedures that we took to complete this project.
From the beginning I knew what I wanted to do. Before we were introduced to this assignment I had finished reading a book called Half the Sky - How to Change the World. This book definetly inspired me to do more with women's rights and the CT project was a perfect way to get this on track. My plan was to create a movie that informed viewers of the struggles that women in developing countries, especially Africa, face on a daily basis. These included Maternal Mortality, Genital Mutilation and Rape.

I decided that the step up of my movie would go as following:

1. Introduction to the topic.
2. Facts on Maternal Mortality (which would astonish viewers)
3. The 'There is hope...' section. This is where I included information on how organisations are trying to overcome this problem.
4. The outline for steps 2 and 3 were also done for Genital Mutilation and Rape.

I accessed a lot of my information from the United Nations website. It was very useful and provided a lot of facts and statistics. I also found many of the documentaries that had been aired on UN Television, which I also used in my movie.
Women for Women International also had a very good website that explained what they were doing and where they had bases. I got a lot of information from this website as well, especially in the view from African women who are part of the programs.

The music that I chose at the beginning was from Jack Johnson. I really like this singer as his songs are melancholy and moving. It was important that the music wasn't overwhelming when there were shocking facts. For the end of the movie, in the section that talked about the ways people are trying to change these issues, I chose a song by Savage Garden. This song was powerful and motivational. It gave you that feeling of hope and determination.

From the feedback that I have gotten from peers, one thing that I could have changed is the length of some of the videos that I added. My movie goes for 8.5 mins, which can be long especially if you are not interested in the topic. This could definetly be an improvement that I would consider if I was to do a similar project.

Overall, I really enjoyed this task. It linked in our abilities for technology and something that we find interesting. It was enjoyable because the main focus was something of our choice, hence we liked it. I am really happy with the outcome of my movie.

Thank you to everyone that supported me and gave me helpful criticism and friendly feedback :)

How to find my movie!

Hi everyone,
I have created a YouTube account and have uploaded my movie. Below is the URL that will take you to my project. I originally planned to upload the movie straight onto my blog, however, I had quite a few difficulties doing this. I hope that this method works. Fingers crossed :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sga3dtctFuw

Take a look and give me some feedback.

:(

I was hoping to upload all the youtube videos that have inspired me, however I will not allow me to do so. As I don't have the link at hands this isn't an option either.
If you watch my movie you will see what I have seen - Courage, Hope, Faith, Strength and Admiralty.

Founder of Women for Women International

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KR38GUWUcdQ

It's been a long process!

Creating my movie has been a lot of fun, however it has taken many hours to complete it. I have learnt a lot about the work of aid organisations that are working for a better future for women. I have also found some of the stories from women very overwhelming and eye-opening.
I will be blogging the videos from UNICEF that have provided many facts, figures and real life accounts the experiences of women all over Africa.

MOVIE

To raise awareness I am going to make a movie. This will incorporate images, quotes and short clips that I have found through youtube. Over the following weeks I will accumulating the material and post them on the blog with their sources.

Meet Prudence

Mothers may die giving birth from various complications, from eclampsia to sepsis. But behind the medical explanations, there are more critical sociological and biological ones, as Prudence Lemokouno and her family found out in Cameroon. A mother of three children at 24 years old, Prudence went into labor with her fourth, when an untrained birth attendant sat on Prudence’s stomach and jumped up and down and ruptured her uterus. The impoverished family paid a motorcyclist to take Prudence to the hospital, only to find out that they needed $100 for a caesarean that would save both lives. Unlike many other women, Prudence had a husband who cared dearly for her and did not want his wife and unborn child to pass away. However, $100 is unaffordable for Prudence's family, there only option was to sell their possessions. This was a risk they were willing to take. Meanwhile, Prudence was still at the hospital, slowing fading away. As many doctors there are who are willing to perform this surgery without outright payment, many refuse to do so. They are unwilling to use the supplies and are more concerned for their own profit. The families return to the hospital was not a joyous one. Not having raised the correct amount of money they were left in despair watching a wife, daughter and mother deteriorating with her unborn child. 


Prudence Lemokouno and her child's death could have been prevented. It is normal for these families to have birth at home. It is normal for a village healer to deliver the baby. 


IT IS NOT NORMAL! 


It is not normal for a untrained birth attendant to jump up and down on a pregnant woman's stomach. We know this. We understand that there are people who specialise in this area, who are aware of the precautions that they must take and the risks that accompany this phenomena. It is through education that we know this. It is through education the these midwifes are exceptional at what they do. 

Where we are going?

CHECKPOINT!

It is important not to get lost in the stories and research and thoughts of how you can help. 

The link will bring you to the 'Half the Sky' website page that allows you to spread the word to friends and family. 

http://www.halftheskymovement.org/spread-the-word

Download the images and share them on you social networking sites or print them off and share them around.

What is a Fistula?

I realised that in Edna's story a medical disease, known as a fistula, was mentioned. But...unless we really know what this is, we wouldn't understand the pain women go through.

Fistulas can occur in various areas of the human body, however the branch which relates to the women in third-world countries is called a Obstetric Fistula. The occurrence of this variety is most common in Africa and Southern Asia.


So what happens when a woman develops a Fistula?


It is quite simple, you lose the ability to control your urine and faeces.


To be honest, I don't want to go into the complicated terms, but I don't think it is possible without.


Two quick terms:
1. Vesico-vaginal fistula (“VVF”) is a hole that develops between the vagina and the bladder.
2. Recto-vaginal fistula (“RVF”) is a hole that develops between the vagina and the rectum.


Both VVF and RVF are caused by prolonged obstructed labour when a woman is unable to deliver her baby safely and does not have access to an emergency cesarean. 


Unfortunately the baby almost always dies, and the mother is left leaking urine and/or faeces (through the vagina). It is also common for women to experience a condition called 'foot drop' where they cannot walk due to nerve damage of the lower limbs. Although these physical consequences are devastating, the  toll on their social reputation is catastrophic. Their husbands file for a divorce or with much less hassle abandon them.


Imagine being sentenced the the lonely hut on the outskirts of the village. Your friends and family avoid you because the smell is so unbearable. You eat alone, sleep alone and live alone. These women are in complete isolation. It is impossible to understand what these women must feel.


So now you know what a Fistula is. Millions of women experience this agony, and for the majority of time they too die along with their baby. Yes, there are welfare groups and hospitals that will openly take care of these women, it is often dependent on the family to take the women to one of these. 


I believe that setting up these organisations who provide help is very important. However, unless the family believes that the woman is worthy they will not look for places where they can treat her. This is where we come into play. 


AWARENESS!!!


We need to voice what these women feel. Until they can stand for themselves we need to do it. The men are not bad, they just don't know any different. 

Meet Edna

Ok, so I was wondering where I would begin this journey when I thought it would be best to introduce you to some of the beautiful and inspirational characters that I was introduced to. 

So meet Edna...

In Somaliland, where local camels often have more freedom than women, Edna Adan knew that her country needed a hospital dedicated to serving women. There were so many challenges, like the time a nomadic woman gave birth in the desert and developed a fistula, tearing her bladder. Her husband couldn’t stand her smell and wetness, so he stabbed her in the throat. To build a hospital for such women, Edna secured an abandoned site, which had been used as a dump; she cobbled together money and construction began. When the hospital was mostly built, but still lacked a roof, the money ran out. Two Americans got wind of her project and started a campaign to raise funds for Edna... 

Half the Sky - How to Change the World

The beginning!

There is a point in life when it just clicks. After spending years changing what you will be, you finally...and I mean finally...find what you have been looking for. There is one thing I want to do before I die...I want to make a difference. It doesn't matter how big or small, I want to be remembered. 

It all began when I opened the pages of 'Half the Sky' by Nicholas Kristof. This book held the power that initiated this change. Now, it is my turn to change the world and the first step of doing this is awareness. I am going to take you on a journey.