Honest updates like this one about the frustrations and struggles are just as useful - probably more so - than the celebrations of our successes. After the long break that the Bow Bazaar group took, I think the most important thing is to regain the momentum they had built up. Of course, the ultimate goal of all Rising Voices projects is that each participant is able and encouraged to publish online on their own, but it is understandable that this will take some groups much longer than other. Of course, it doesn’t help when everything goes wrong at the cyber-cafe.

One idea might be to let the group take a digital camera around their neighborhood to take photographs. You could then help them upload the photographs to their blogs. Once they see their word online, that might give them more motivation to learn how to do it themselves.

Our blogging in Toamasina a province in Madagascar went the same way on their first take. A lot of frustration and deception of course. But the tutors were good sport and invited everyone outside for a drink and discussions. Another technique they use in Antananarivo it’s to open a group blog or work in pair. Emulation and exchanges facilitate the learning process.
But we had more difficulties in Mahajanga because among the technical problems (electricity was often out, no connection for hours…) the students were afraid of the internet! They were used to hear scaring things about this medium so our strategy was to start each workshop with a screening of different blogs and different digital work (Flickr and videos the other groups have done).
You can hear our tutor Lindsay her eon this very interesting interview where she shares all the ups and downs of creating a blogging community. http://www.foko-madagascar.org/2008/04/27/podcasts-misaotranao-thank-you-lindsay-redifer/

We’re learning along the way as someone wrote to me lately…