|
WOMEN’S MEDIA AND TECHNOLOGY FUND GRANTEES
Eleven years after the Balkan war officially ended, Bosnia and Herzegovina and the other six Balkan
states continue on the path to recovery from the political, economic and humanitarian toll of the war.
In this challenging climate, a promising group of young, media-savvy
feminists are dedicated to raising awareness about gender inequality in
post-war Sarajevo. Fueled by courage and creativity, CURE uses bold
strategies to change public attitudes towards women,
performing impromptu street skits about women’s rights and carrying
out guerrilla marketing campaigns that highlight the discrimination
present in everyday life. In 2006 CURE launched the PitchWise
Festival—the first event of its kind celebrating women artists in Bosnia
and Herzegovina and beyond through multimedia exhibits, films,
interactive workshops, music and literary performances.
Rural radio has tremendous influence in Togo, where literacy rates are low and few people have
access to televisions. Le Réseau International des Femmes de l’Association des Radios
Communautaires—Togo (RIF) encourages and
promotes women's participation in radio broadcasting by
equipping the country’s growing number of female
producers with the technical skills to produce quality radio
programs on issues affecting women. RIF also trains
women in a range of information technologies, including
computer use, digital production and online media. Through
its radio programs conducted in local languages, RIF has
educated the population on human rights issues including
HIV/AIDS, gender-based violence and child rights.
 From Hollywood to Istanbul, the world’s film industries are largely dominated by men. In 2001, a
group of Turkish feminists involved in cinema production created the Filmmor Women's
Cooperative to encourage women to take a more active role in
filmmaking and increase the representation of women’s challenges,
achievements, experiences and ideas in cinema. The group also
provides support and solidarity for women who want to make
their own films. After hosting an annual International Women’s Film
Festival in Istanbul for the past five years, Filmmor recently took their
show on the road. The “Festival on Wheels” brought 30 films to
locations across Turkey, where free screenings reached an audience of
over 10,000. Due to Turkey’s vast geography and the cultural chasm
between cosmopolitan Istanbul and more traditional rural areas, the
traveling festival is a valuable tool in bringing women’s rights to the
forefront of conversations in communities across the country.
|
|
