This contest-based initiative was designed to foster children's participation in local environmental issues by providing them with the skills and tools to speak with their own voices through information and communication technologies (ICTs). The video and storyboard challenge project is participatory; though it first emerged from the vision of the CHARM team and founders of the Fah Diow Foundation, it was shaped by various conversations with many different members of coastal communities and with teachers at several of the participating schools. These stakeholders agreed on the need to find ways to share the importance of their natural environment with others around Thailand, as well as to ensure that young people in their communities are involved in conservation of traditional lifestyles and resource use. In an effort to provide a voice to these communities, children were identified as key action agents, and video and computer equipment (provided by CHARM) was selected as the key communication medium.

Specifically, with the guidance of their teachers, the participating students created 12 documentaries that provide an "insider's" view on issues facing coastal communities - through the eyes of children. For example, "Choices for Survival", from the Sapharachanee School in Trang province, arose from a youth project working with a fishing community in Trang province. The short film shows how yesterday's technologies may provide part of the answer to today's problems, as sails are reintroduced to local fishing boats, thus reducing the dependency on increasingly expensive petroleum-based fuels. (Click here to view all 12 films, to read comments from the judges, and to submit comments.)

Prominent personnel, including teachers, got involved in this initiative. For instance, a day before the October 30 2006 Awards event, a diverse group of experts from the film and music industry, dramatic arts, resource management, education, publishing and the private sector came together to view the documentaries and storyboards and to award prizes. (The judges reportedly gave direction for improvement, rather than simply giving points with no explanation as to the reasons for their decisions). At the actual event, a representative from the Department of Fisheries discussed the importance of providing tools for communities to create their own media - media that reflects their lives and meets their needs. His comments were followed by remarks by Dr. Benjaluck Namfah of the Ministry of Education, who promised to use the videos in a national exhibition on innovation in education. Then, Dr. Chaiyod Bunyakij of the Thailand Environment Institute spoke of the importance of remembering that there is more than just economic value to the natural environment; there is also spiritual, cultural and community value, as illustrated by the Precious Nipa Palm documentary on the use of traditional music. The closing remarks by a member of the EU delegation indicated that the project was as much an opportunity to learn from the children as it was a learning opportunity for them.

Between May 2nd and 8th, 2007, Fah Diow Foundation held a camp on video documentary making. Children and teachers at the camp gained skills in basic camera techniques and in story-telling for documentaries, as well as making new friends among their peers at other schools. Overall, it was considered a great success by the Foundation, with teachers who participated planning to hold follow-up training locally in their communities.

Children, Youth, Environment, Natural Resources Management.

In the words of a Fah Diow Foundation representative: "The voice these children have found through the video making process is one that clearly expresses their love and care for their local environment. The process of making a video documentary has been exciting and fun, and encouraged an enthusiasm for research and exploration that has surprised their parents, neighbours, teachers and school principals. This is learning with a purpose...We have seen that in the storyboard design and video filming process these children are learning not just about their communities, but also about themselves, and that they are gaining in confidence and self-esteem in a way that exceeds all our expectations."

Based on this assessment, organisers hope to expand this youth media initiative to coastal communities around the world, creating an annual event of storyboard design and video documentary filming for children. "Because so many of the issues facing coastal communities in Thailand are common to other communities around the world, we would like to develop a network of young people living in coastal communities exchanging video documentaries as a way of engaging in a dialogue with others facing similar issues relating to coastal resource management. We would like this to reach communities in both the 'developed' and 'developing' world through a 'Youth Currents' network...or something similar."

Those who are interested in receiving a CD of the 12 documentaries and further details about the processes building up to this event may send their name, title, organisation, and mailing address to fahdiow@yahoo.co.uk

The Fah Diow Foundation was formed to respond to a perceived need to create opportunities for real dialogue among different sectors of communities around the world. Projects are based on participatory approaches and are guided by an effort to provide opportunities for people to speak to others using their own voices. The Foundation sees video documentary as a valuable way of achieving these aims.

The Fah Diow Foundation is currently looking for sponsors to continue supporting the use of video documentary making for community groups and youth in the South of Thailand as an effective way of balancing the influence of mass media in communicating local issues and concerns.