ComDev09 students are now finishing up their final thesis projects ready for submission on Monday. A ComDev thesis often involves original field research and enables students to apply theory in practice. This is exactly what ComDev08 alumnus Rosalind Yarde did when she conducted her field research for her final masters thesis with Mkombozi, an NGO in Moshi, northern Tanzania that supports children living on the street. The field work for Rosalind’s thesis was a pilot study that explored how a participatory approach to radio production might become a vehicle for social change. Rosalind worked with a group of young people to make a one-off radio programme. The programme presented issues that were important to the young producers from their own perspective. The positive response to the show form the participants, the Mkombozi project and even local authorities was an indication of how successful the ‘experiment’ had been but Rosalind did not initially anticipate taking the project further than the pilot stage. However soon after she completed her thesis Rosalind was approached by Mkombozi and asked if would be interested in developing her pilot study into regular programming for a Youth Radio Network initiated by UNICEF Dar es Salaam.
The 15 children that Rosalind is working with have now produced 9 editions of their radio programme and in this piece for the ComDev Blog she describes the rewarding experience of moving from pilot study to continuing project and how satisfying it is to see the research she did for her masters thesis validated as as theory is proved in practice.
Åsa Tolgraven graduated from Malmö University’s Communication for Development masters programme in 2004. After graduation Åsa continued working as a TV producer with UR, the department making educational programmes for Swedish Public Service Television. Last year she was series producer and project leader for Inferno, a TV documentary and social media project that explored issues around mental health.
On January 29th the BakaForum jury unanimously awarded Inferno the cross media prize for an adult eduction programme. Åsa was in Basel, Switzerland to collect award. When I talked to her last week she said that she was “extremely surprised and very very grateful that the jury had recognized what a very special project Inferno was”.
Åsa Tolgraven (second from left) Inferno series producer and ComDev alumnus
In their commendation the jury said that “this innovative cross-media production results in the destigmatisation of mental illness for the general public and is a valuable resource for those affected by mental illness”. The jury also praised the way that the programme combined an online blog with documentary film, “interaction with the online community added value to the production, enabled further discussion on mental illness and provided options for professional help.
You can read more about Åsa, Inferno and her studies with ComDev in this interview.
If like Åsa you would like to study ComDev in Malmö applications for Swedish and EU citizens open on March 15th you can get more information on how to apply to ComDev here.
Anders Hög Hansen helps to prepare a presentation given by Myriam Horngren live from her home in France via video conference
Last week was a busy one for the ComDev masters programme here in Malmö. On Thursday 3rd we had a successful day of examinations for students presenting their final exam projects. Myriam Horngren was one the students presenting her final project work. Myriam defended her masters thesis Rap: a tool for promoting change amongst youth in west Africa, live via video conference from her home in France.
One Friday 4th and Saturday 5th we had a great two day seminar. Full days of lectures and discussions with participation from students both in Malmö and those taking part online from all over the world.
We will have lecture summaries and video material on the site was soon as we have had a chance to edit the material.
ComDev09 students are now finishing up their final thesis projects ready for submission on Monday. A ComDev thesis often involves original field research and enables students to apply theory in practice. This is exactly what ComDev08 alumnus Rosalind Yarde did when she conducted her field research for her final masters thesis with Mkombozi, an NGO in Moshi, northern Tanzania that supports children living on the street. The field work for Rosalind’s thesis was a pilot study that explored how a participatory approach to radio production might become a vehicle for social change. Rosalind worked with a group of young people to make a one-off radio programme. The programme presented issues that were important to the young producers from their own perspective. The positive response to the show form the participants, the Mkombozi project and even local authorities was an indication of how successful the ‘experiment’ had been but Rosalind did not initially anticipate taking the project further than the pilot stage. However soon after she completed her thesis Rosalind was approached by Mkombozi and asked if would be interested in developing her pilot study into regular programming for a Youth Radio Network initiated by UNICEF Dar es Salaam.
