Shocking the Nation to Action - Zambia

Before beginning the project, consultative meetings were carried out with funders, NGOs, and fieldworkers. This process involved discussion of the direction in which each initiative was going. Participants discovered linkages both in their activities and in what they considered to be the causes of the problem. The meeting brought out the views of the various stakeholders.

Child sexual exploitation was identified as an important issue. A video was made to explore the issues of sex work in Livingstone, Zambia. This project included interviews with young sex workers, brothel owners, field workers, and support service providers.

Upon completion of the video, stakeholders were invited to a screening at the city council chambers. This venue was a strategic decision, as this is where city by-laws are enacted. The city mayor chaired the meeting. After watching the video, the stakeholders present engaged in debate. This debate was also filmed. Organisers state that the video was able to bring together stakeholders, encourage debate, and lead to the enactment of by-laws to protect against child sexual exploitation.

The film was also broadcast on national television, and public service announcements (PSAs) were developed. It was recognised that to reach the segment of the population who were most at risk (the young people involved in sex work) it was necessary to work though a grassroots distribution network. The film was distributed to local NGOs working in the field for use in their activities.

To encourage interactivity and collaboration, during the time period of the screenings, a helpline was set-up to direct enquiries to various organisations. The film had a message at the bottom of the screen directing the viewer to contact M-Films with any queries. This line led the caller to a general committee member, who then directed the call as needed.

Youth, Health, Rights.

The project was developed to address various needs. The organisers had found that many of the NGOs involved in helping the young people were unaware of each other's activities. It was also found that there was a need to begin discussing young people involved in sex work, a topic that people were reluctant to talk about.

Before beginning the project, organisers sought the permission and support of the city mayor. The mayor was engaged as a key stakeholder throughout the process - in developing the concept through to its implementation. This involvement was viewed as especially important because filming can be sensitive, especially given the nature of the documentary.