RIUtv provides media training to Aqua Shops team
22 September 2010

Research Into Use (RIU) works closely with its partners to help them to succeed. Supplying funds is an important part of what we do more; RIU is well placed to offer a range of other support to its partner projects. In addition to funding RIU has brokered a large number of very useful introductions and also supports targeted capacity building.

Keith Sones explains:

"Aqua Shops is one of the newest members of the RIU portfolio. When we became aware that the Aqua Shop team were planning to make films we wanted to see how we could help. RIUtv's Nik Wood was in Nairobi on a different mission - so, we reworked his schedule and offered the team a half-day training session called 'making you a video journalist'."

Victor Motari, from the SARNISSA project and Network one of the Aqua Shop partners , said of the training:

"I was impressed by Nik's experience before and behind the camera. I was also surprised to know at his core is journalism and had been hosting a BBC TV program in UK. We were able to go through a lot in a short span of time and learnt much.

The session was heavily endowed with skills, tricks and fundamentals of making excellent videos (from what is needed to how to do it professionally). We also learnt new skills and knowledge on interviews. Andrew Adwera, an RIU Research Fellow, joined us and Nik used him in a filmed interview as our practical lesson on how to conduct interviews. It was very interesting and extremely beneficial. We are truly grateful to RIU for making this possible."

RIU plans to leave behind enhanced communication capacity in our partners and encourages them to collect audio-visual material to enable them to tell their stories to the donor community and other key audiences.

RIU communications strategy