Community cinema nights are an effective way to deliver health and safety education outside of schools in The Gambia. Men, women and children of all ages are invited to attend.
Why Community Cinema?
Interactions and dialogue in Gambian communities are often defined by gender, age and social status. For example, men will generally discuss issues of community concern only with other men. There are rarely opportunities for different groups in a given community to come together at an equal platform and discuss issues of concern.
How do we do it?
NSGA staff conduct focus groups with community leaders to identify specific challenges and needs that should be addressed. Staff and volunteers work with NSGA’s media unit to develop short and creative films on the issues identified. Experienced NSGA staff travel to different communities to host community cinema nights. Included in the evening’s events are moderated Q&A sessions as well as additional education on the issues addressed in the film. The dialogue that occurs after the films is one way that communities unite and face challenges head on.
NSGA staff conduct follow-up sessions to measure progress and offer guidance where needed.
Reach and benefits
Approximately 100 community cinema nights are organized each year across The Gambia.
Attendance at a community cinema night ranges from 75 to 2000 people depending on the size of the community. Dialogue is fostered among community members. As a result, participation of women and children addressing community challenges has significantly increased.