PROGRAMME INTERCULTURAL COMMUNICATIONS AND MEDIA EDUCATION PROJECT FOR SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED TEENAGERS involving THEIR TEACHERSIt is almost a cliché to say that information is the new raw material of world society. Nevertheless we see it as a fact of daily life. So access, and a basic knowledge of how to handle the tools of the information society, is a must for the future generation. But we also are aware that the gap is rapidly growing between those who have money - and thus access to the constantly changing tools - and those who are too poor….…For example, in Hungary only approximately thirty six percent of the population is using the internet (IE) and a majority of young people have access only at school. It is essential to the process of integration that information should reach those places where it is needed, and be understood by those who need it, enabling people at social disadvantage to obtain what the majority of people can obtain, i.e. employment, health care, proper administration, schooling, etc. So bridging the communication gap by providing communication techniques of the majority society is a further responsibility. Another task is to encourage respect for the cultural differences – or similarities – between Roma and Non-Roma. This reality is a challenge for the education system, especially in Hungary where according to the Education Law (10/2003. (IV.28.) OM), media education is obligatory from age 14. Unfortunately, despite of this sophisticated law, most of the teachers are not prepared or trained for this huge task, are not yet ready to train their students. Therefore the target groups of the Manush Foundation are both the socially disadvantaged teenagers and their teachers who are working with them on a day-to-day level. One of the aims of our basic programme, which lasts a single academic year or nine month, is to provide general skills for using the tools of the information society for both groups. But it is not only such knowledge that we consider important. Another aim is to help create a generation of critical media consumers and to encourage them to be pro active, for example through establishing school radios, videos or homepages, as well as printed or electronic newspapers about and for their community. Our basic nine-month and three-step starts with accredited 60 hour media training for teachers - which works as Step One but also independently of the project. It gives an insight into the whole task and motivates the teachers to continue and get further practical experience by implementing our nine-month, three- step project. (So far till 2007 around 40 teachers have completed our training, provided by media trainers also of the National Institute of Public Education (former OKI presently OFI).) Last but not least, the project claims “interculturality” because it refers to the fact that Hungary’s largest minority is the Roma community. We wish to promote the exchange of the cultural values between Roma and Non-Roma already at schools. Further mid-term and long-term goals are: Transforming our regional school network into a nationwide network, getting into the National School Curriculum (NAT), and becoming a role model for other neighbouring countries and cooperating on international level. What, Where, Why, Who and HowAt the present the Manush Foundation provides help on:
More information: Background and development of the project implementationIn northern Hungary, one of the country’s most economically-depressed regions, especially for the Roma, we implemented our pilot project in November in 2004 at our first partner school in the small town of Edelény, near Miskolc, 250 kilometres from the capital, Budapest……This first partner, the Foundation Nursery, Elementary, Secondary and Vocational School, Edelény provides education for 270 pupils. Most of the school’s pupils are Roma. Our second partner school since 2006 September has been the Géza Gárdonyi Elementary and Secondary School of Szuhakálló with 130 students. In the same year we took on a third partner, the Lajos Árpád Elementary and Secondary School of Dédestapolcsány, with 172 students and in November 2007 our fourth partner, the Budapest based NGO, named KAPOCS, a Youth Self Help Service Foundation in district eight has joined us. IMPACT or where we stand nowPresently the “hit” at all our partner schools is shooting videos, photos and creating school radios and homepages – Synergy: In Szuhakálló besides the school editorial staff, every class from the fourth to the eighth, have made in 2007 their own web sides. In 2008 they established a 2nd pupils editorial staff for school radio and so did our partner in Edelény as well. Szuhakálló’s “Radio G.G.”, won in a national competition the first prize in the section school radio. - The regular participants or members of the “school editorial staffs” are formed of between 11 and 20 students aged from 12 to 18.In general, at all our partner schools we have reached the final step which is STEP THREE of our programme. It means THAT THE MAIN GOAL OF STEP THREE HAS BEEN ACHIEVED BY THREE PARTNERS, NAMELY ESTABLISHING THEIR OWN PERMANENT MEDIA PRODUCT. IN ADDITION, SOME OF THEM ARE ALREADY CLOSELY WORKING WITH THE LOCAL PROFESSIONAL TV OR RADIO CHANNELS. To understand the IMPACT of the project on the students and their community please read some of the reports of the Manush project leader teachers under http://www.manush.hu/eng/partner_eng.html More information: HOWThe three steps of the Manush Method in detailFor Step One (duration two months) we provide a 60-hour accredited media training for teachers, which is registered by the Hungarian Ministry of Education (OM/175/122/2005). - This media training are visited by teacher participants of various schools. Therefore the course serves also as a forum to recruit the next partner school or youth organization to proceede the Manush programme. - In the Second Step (duration three to four months) the selected partner school’s teacher will educate the pupils by building school editorial staffs, who will work weekly. While at the same this Manush project leader teacher will be trained in further practical media training by professionals, such as in cutting, editing video or and radio stories.…The Third Step (duration four to six months) involves after above training, students and teachers, producing together and establishing a long-term media product of their own choosing, such as a printed or interactive school newspaper/web sides, radio or video product. The “grand finale” is to broadcast such work once a month at least at the local TV or radio channel in a “School window”. During this nine months period of time or three step programme, Manush is continuously monitoring, mentoring and coordinating, also the cooperation of its partners among each other. Manush’s three-step programme focuses on the potential of the students and the teachers, helps their integration into the information society as well as recognizing cultural values of Roma and Non-Roma communities while developing the self-esteem of the individual students and developing their talents. Finally, Manush has created special booklets for teachers and students, named “How to be or become curious”, (= “Hogyan legyünk kíváncsiak”). It can be downloaded for free (only in Hungarian) at (http://www.manush.hu/hun/letolt.html) So far till 2007 around 40 teachers of various schools have completed our training, provided by media trainers also of the National Institute of Public Education (former OKI presently OFI). Till present over 100 students have joined the various media groups. Manush THANKS ALL ITS PARTNERS, especially the donors and the Manush project leader teachers for their persistent commitment TO this challenging pilot project. New supporters of any kind are welcome on board! |