Lights, camera, action: Youth produce participatory videos highlighting community issues

Under the USAID-funded Advancing Community Empowerment (ACE) project, Pact Myanmar conducted a series of learning sessions with 14 youth group members from Kyainseikgyi Township in Kayin State and Thanbyuzayat Township in Mon State in Southeastern Myanmar. Youth participants selected and explored social issues affecting their communities, including health, education and drug use, using participatory action methodology. The youth were supported to shoot and produce their own participatory videos on these priority issues for the purpose of advocating for social change. The youth’s videos will be screened at an event on August 20 in Mawlamyine commemorating International Youth Day, which was postponed due to flooding in the area. This year’s campaign theme, “Transforming Education,” examines how young people, youth-led organizations and service providers can transform learning opportunities to be more inclusive inside and outside the classroom. This is one of ACE’s activities in Southeastern Myanmar to promote youth leadership and knowledge, which is often overlooked or under-represented in village development action planning.