The Longer Story
The longer story of Project Haiti Speaks:
Recent earthquakes devastated the country of Haiti and shook the entire world. Emergency disaster relief is our most pressing concern. We have already seen many governments, NGOs, individuals, and social networks mobilize to provide assistance in the face of disaster, but Haitian citizens and their friends and families will need much more help as they begin the process of rebuilding their communities. At Media Make Change, we believe that it is our responsibility as global citizens to lend a helping hand. We also believe that social and new media technology is an integral tool for giving voice to those affected by the recent disaster. In addition, a strong presence of Haitian voices in digital media channels will prompt online communities in countless locations to take action by contributing to on-going relief efforts.
We must move quickly. We are in urgent need of on-the-ground care workers to provide basic resources such as food and shelter, but we also need citizen journalists to document current events and offer public information about relief efforts as they unfold. Video, photographic narratives, and other forms of on-the-ground coverage will keep the rest of the world, including U.S. citizens, aware of the current crisis. Through digital documentation posted by Haitian citizens and volunteer relief workers, communities all over the world will gain a better understanding of the relief efforts that have already occurred, and what types of assistance are still sorely needed. Access to timely, online coverage of the crisis in Haiti will enable concerned citizens to fill in the gaps in relief efforts, send additional supplies, and push for change in the most effective manner. It will also ensure that public attention for relief efforts do not fade before the crisis has ended.
How it works:
Project Haiti Speaks will offer digital communications resources to volunteer relief workers and Haitian citizens. The main goals of “Project Haiti Speaks” are two-fold: 1) To provide multimedia support to relief organizations on the ground, and 2) To provide a multimedia platform for volunteers, workers, citizen journalists, and survivors so their stories can be told.
Media Make Change wants to support the important work of organizations and individuals in Haiti. We feel it’s crucial that the experiences and stories in Haiti be told from perspectives not necessarily filtered by various forms of mainstream media.
Partners and volunteers:
Project Haiti Speaks will work with partner organizations and individuals on-the-ground to address this dire need for documentation and global perspective. Citizen journalists will post original online multimedia content relating to relief efforts and current needs in Haiti. We will share this content with online communities around the globe via Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, and other forms of mass digital communication.
We will also rely on generous individuals (like you!) to send us your old—but still usable—digital cameras, camcorders, laptops, batteries, flipcams, and other digital media equipment.
Please send all questions, concerns, ideas, and words of encouragement to mediamakechange [at] gmail [dot] com.