Endorois Youth Unleash Indigenous Voices Through Media Skills Project
The Endorois Indigenous Women Empowerment Network (EIWEN) has launched the 'Indigenous Voices Unleashed' project, aiming to empower youth with media skills and combat underrepresentation in national media. Funded by the Global Indigenous Fund from November 2024 to April 2025, the project equipped over 60 young people with essential storytelling, photography, video production, and digital literacy skills.
The project, which procured media production equipment and established youth-led communication platforms, enabled participants to document their lives, engage with Elders, and create content highlighting local issues. This increased the community's visibility and fostered dialogue, renewing cultural pride and facilitating intergenerational exchange among Endorois youth. Despite challenges such as digital access barriers and varying adaptation speeds to new technology, an inclusive approach ensured everyone's progress. EIWEN conducted four media training workshops to achieve these results, enhancing its institutional capacity to implement future media-driven projects.
The 'Indigenous Voices Unleashed' project has successfully equipped Endorois youth, particularly young women and individuals with disabilities, with media skills for advocacy, identity reinforcement, and community cohesion. Continued investment in Indigenous-owned media and sustainable funding for community-based storytelling platforms is crucial for protecting Indigenous heritage and promoting civic engagement.