DW-AKADEMIE 2011 Kampala Workshop: A Fun Learning Experience

In a four-cornered room with a beautifully tiled brown floor, in Kampala International Hotel 2000, are TV and radio journalists from five East African Community member states. They have come to attend the DW-AKADEMIE 2011 training on the theme “Making Finance Work in Africa”.

This would be their destination for three weeks as they developed their journalistic skills. On the 21st June 2011, Thomas Rehemann, head of DW-AKADEMIE trainers in this workshop began the training by request for introduction from the participants. An introduction was not such a simple task as the majority in the group spoke in fading voices, causing frequently the interruption of: “Please speak louder!” Participants were divided into two groups of radio and TV.

Each group was briefed on what was going to take place in the following three weeks of the training, with the first week mainly on techniques of shooting, interviewing and script writing.

SECOND WEEK

The second week was characterized by attendance of an international conference on “Zipping Finance and Farming in Africa.” The meeting, held in Speke Resort Munyonyo, came in the backdrop of a wanting agriculture sector in Africa that is still having difficulties accessing finance to encourage development. We visited different parts of the country to get a first hand feel of the agriculture sector.

Some participants visited a warehousing system, others coffee farmers while others went to the source of the Nile in Jinja. We also had much fun when we went to the locations to shoot our different productions. For those who were experiencing organized shooting of a story for the first time it was a great experience, and for others who had an idea it was an additional knowledge. Interacting with different people from different nationalities of the east African countries was great. Listening to different accents when people spoke was also something to remember.

During meals watching some people marvel at the type of food and cookery style on the menu is also memorable. For non-Ugandans, just being in the pearl of Africa was thrilling and visits round the city after classes and during shooting sessions was an adventure.

THIRD WEEK — WE NEED MORE!

The third week was about work and work. While others were busy editing their stories, others were learning how to open blogs and post their stories online, the trainers ensuring that the programme was going as planned.

Just looking at our newly created website on the training in Kampala easily attracted smiles from peoples’ faces. These smiles will remain in the hearts of the 24 participants for a long time since having training from DW–AKADEMIE was what many have termed as three weeks to remember. In fact there have been unanimous suggestions that DW-AKADEMIE gives training especially on online for a longer period of time.

All in all DW AKADEMIE has left us with a strong feeling of privilege.