CV Camp Update : India Producers Skype with Brazil Producers

Skype with Brazil producers

One night at the Camp, the Community Producers from India had a skype videoconference with VVs' Producers from Brazil. Alexandra Pinschmidt, a Masters Candidate in International Development from Drake University and VV Intern, writes about this unique exchange between Community Producers living tens of thousands of miles apart.

One of the most important goals in having a Community Video Camp is to bring together people from all around the country who wouldn't have otherwise met. As hoped, stories, ideas, and inspiration flowed in all directions between community producers, NGO workers, and media students throughout the 6 days.

For a handful of Community Producers, the most surprising of these exchanges took place between them and a similar group of Community Producers from Sao Paulo, Brazil. This group, in a new program by Video Volunteers in partnership with the Brazilian NGO Casa das Caldeiras, focuses on sustainable entrepreneurial models for community video.

Fitting for a camp focused on both community and video communication, the two groups of about ten producers spoke via a live Skype video internet call for over an hour. Across two oceans, a 12 hour time difference, and through an extensive line of patient translations (from Portuguese to English to Telegu and Hindi - and back), the producers asked each other questions about pressing issues that their respective communities face. The two groups found that Brazil and India struggle with a number of similar issues, such as inadequate transportation in large cities, child poverty, and mainstream media's inattention to their local issues. Ashish, who works with the NGO Khoj in Rajisthan, was surprised to learn that some Brazilian politicians buy constituent votes, similar to the types of governmental corruption that India faces. On some issues there were clear differences between the countries. For example, several women from the Brazilian team acknowledged that life for women in Brazil is often easier than for men - an arguable contrast with the cultural restrictions that women face in India.

In addition to the question and answer back and forth, everyone loved the chance to see people with similar passions - live through the computer - from the other side of the world. In between translations there was a great deal of waving, dancing, hands being placed together in "Namaste" greetings, virtual handshakes, and lots of beaming smiles and laughter. The Latin American producers burst into cheers upon seeing one of the Indian producers wearing a Brazilian football jersey.

Bipin, a Community Producer from Apna Malak Ma, said that this was the first time he's spoken to someone so far away, especially in such a visual way. Ranjan, a Producer from Bheem Videoshala, echoed this, saying she had heard about technology that enabled people to talk through computers connected through the internet, but had never seen it happen for herself. She was particularly excited by the idea, as such technology could have great ramifications for her work in the education field. Both agreed that internet telecommunications could one day greatly improve their communication with other CVUs and with Video Volunteers staff.

This virtual meeting left everyone with hopes for a time when all the Community Producers can meet in one physical location and talk face to face. But for now, this was a great start. Bipin stated, "After seeing this, the world has become small." Ashish agreed, saying he was so happy to know that CVUs are forming outside of India as well. Being able to speak with and see the other Producers via the internet gave him the feeling that their Brazilians friend were right next door.

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