“I am taking home jewels of information” proclaimed Suleiman Ben Ramdan. His heartfelt statement revealed much about this unique training on Journalism Basics and Mobile Journalism organised by the DW Academy’s Media in Libya programme. It was one of a kind for bringing together two civil society organisations that had never cooperated before. Both the members of the Boy Scouts of Libya and the Libyan Red Crescent Society (LRCS) excel in volunteer service to their communities. “We didn’t have much contact with the LRCS in the past,” said Boy Scout Abdselkados Aleisawi. “By interacting with them, I benefitted a lot.” Both organizations have so many moving stories to tell, and both prove that not all reports from Libya must be tales of suffering. With the Citizen Service Libya these young Volunteers now have a platform to put their communication skills at the service of citizens.
It was in this spirit that Media in Libya brought together 10 volunteers from each organization. In 3-day workshops they learnt or polished their skills in audiovisual communication. “ In three days I received the experience of 10 years of photography,” assured LRCS photographer Mohammed Alrfadi. The participants themselves contributed greatly to this: “I liked the teamwork in this training,” affirmed Ahmed Zuan. “Expertise didn’t come only from the trainers but also from the trainees.” Peer-to-peer transfer of skills can accelerate learning, and this training gave superb proof of this. Starting out seated in two distinct rows, with red LRCS members on one side and khaki-clad Scouts on the other, the volunteers soon mingled. Interchange was highly valued, increasing the creativity of all teams. Some participants started with little previous knowledge: Boy Scout Emad Fares “discovered that this smartphone can be used for filming, rather than just calling people.” Others were able to develop their talent with new skills, be it 5-shot technique, the use of apps for editing on the smartphone, or the development of a script.
“We will disseminate this knowledge,” assured Tawfiq Alshokry, LRCS Media Officer in Misrata. This statement was echoed by many. The creativity they showed making short films and interviews proves that they have a lot to give to their colleagues back home.