Dagoretti Film Centre is an enterprise created within the context of the training and audiovisual production,
In 2000 Amref Health Africa in Kenya launched the child protection intervention to respond to the explosive growth of the number of street children and families in the Dagoretti area, that houses 17 informal settlements (slums) that at that time had reached 11,500 street children (Amref baseline survey report, 2001). To respond, Amref developed and implemented the Community Based Child Protection 4R approach (Rescue, Rehabilitation, Re-socialization and Reintegration) with the goal of improving the health condition and welfare of children in Dagoretti.
DFC promotes talent development for vulnerable children and young people in the sectors of filming and still photography, resulting in the production of critically acclaimed and award winning films. The production has given a voice to marginalized children and youth in local, national and international platforms through community screenings, mass media and film festivals. The products also aim to promote behaviour change and social mobilization, in order to foster child protection and youth empowerment.
Our Approach
We developed the Different Perspective (DP) approach after a critique of the passive role of communities in collection and dissemination of information on the issues affecting Africa. Mainstream media traditionally focuses on African emergencies and extreme circumstances, depriving the subjects of their dignity and vitality. After more than 50 years of human rights campaigns, in the eyes of the general audience Africa still lags behind in telling HER story. The approach is anchored on peer-to-peer learning and tackles the issues of particular communities with the eye of an “insider”. The Different Perspective approach is double edged: bridging together the importance of the social process with the artistic result of the products and giving a voice to the voiceless along with returning the dignity and the initiative to the protagonists.The approach has demonstrated a real value in terms of creating awareness, dissemination of messages and being a transformational catalyst. The DFC enterprise uses the different perspective approach in employment of young scriptwriters, technicians, actors and directors in the production of films, short films and music videos in the country’s fast-growing Creative industry.