Guide for ethnographic documentary making in youth work
Dive into our new Guide on Ethnographic Documentary-Making in Youth Work and learn how to capture real voices, experiences, and stories from young people in your community. Ready to create impact? Let’s get started!
Access the guide via this link: https://shorturl.at/2Vif4
The guide has been developed by a team led by the European Confederation of Youth Clubs (ECYC) in collaboration with the University College Leuven-Limburg (UCLL) Hogeschool UCLL Curba de Cultură Limerick Youth Service and Mals Vlees
Guide for sustainable youth events
When organizing youth events, you can do something better for the world in many ways. By following these guidelines, you can develop and organize youth events that are not only engaging and impactful but also environmentally, economically and socially sustainable.
View and download the guide following this link:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qqqY_-D1eI5DguozQI3Q5MGALXa4ntZb/view?usp=sharing
Closing event Rural Youth Cinema
Rural Youth Cinema at the ECYC Conference
ECYC – European Confederation of Youth Clubs organised a conference on diversity, equity and inclusion in working with young people, which took place in Ghent – the European Youth Capital 2024.
During the conference, our colleague Estelle Lehmann held a workshop where she presented the benefits of working with young people in rural settings, noting that we often say ‘glamorous until it isn’t’.
This event was also a great opportunity to present the results of the Rural Youth Cinema project, carried out in collaboration with ECYC, Rathkeale Youth Space – West Limerick Youth Work – University of Leuven, Mals Vlees Theatre and Hogeschool UCLL – Limerick Youth Services.
As we have shared here, we have created some wonderful materials in this project, such as a guide to ethnographic documentation as a methodology in working with young people in rural areas (and beyond!) and a series of recommendations on how we can organise youth events in a more sustainable way.Thank you ECYC for the invitation and the context you have created!
School system struggles
Watch the video below about school struggles in rural Romania. This video was made as part of the rural youth cinema project, exploring video documentary making as a tool in youth work to connect with our local environments.
Catalities - Cat Personalities
The video-making process brought up some serious creativity in rural young people from Romania. Great in writing, the creator of Catalities – Cat personalities documentary is offering us a short backstory on one of the main characters in the video – Pisi.
The video-making process was coordinated by Curba de Cultură . See the video below!
Read the story:
Is it really true that our little companions have no emotions or soul? Or the church song to us all along…
Pisi can tell you a story and leave you with a better answer to these questions. Born as an only child, with a mother inexperienced in having kids, Pisi has always been lonely. Trying to fit in between the other cats with no help.
Because of this certain aspect, he got a closer relationship with humans than his own species. Of course, difficulties are going to come.
One day they really came. During one of the days, near Easter, there is a tradition where the Priest that is in charge of the village visits all the houses to purify them with holy water.
Cats are not allowed in the house while this process was under movement so Pisi was being left outside, not let in even if he begged to come. Waiting impatiently to come in, Pisi can hear the Priest talk about the white dog in the back of our house who kept barking endlessly, probably feeling uncomfortable.
To Pisi’s surprise, the man wasn’t giving advice to calm the dog but…just called him soulless and a sinner for interrupting their holy ritual with its insufferable sounds.
The woman to whom the Priest was talking to remained speechless to his behavior but said nothing and let him move to the next location.
These remarks left the cat just as quiet. Is it true that he does not have a soul? But he feels hungry..and thirsty as all people do, is that not a proof of his pure presence? Being able to go back in, he dashed into the house without thinking about food or water anymore…He was hurt.
Pisi did not eat everything the whole day after that incident. Feeling weak and hopeless, he got up slowly and came to one of the humans going around and tried to communicate with them that he was hungry.
The human looked at the cat with a worried face and gave him everything he needed. This still didn’t cheer up the cat in the slightest. One of the cats that dwells in the same house as him noticed his behavior and came to check on him.
“What is it, Pisi? Are you feeling unwell?” said the brown cat.
“Not really…just a little sad. Do you think we are animals without emotions?” replied Pisi with another question.
“Not at all..look at you right now, you’re sad about something like that which means you do have emotions, you also show love, admiration and respect to the people that show kindness towards you. You also feel anger and frustration when someone steals your food or place…you also laugh, isn’t that proof of having emotions and feelings?”
“You’re right…I was blinded by my feelings and forgot to think logically. We do have a soul, maybe it is not functioning like human’s but it is there and I should be proud of it” says Pisi as the last comment on the conversation, leaving the sadness behind and embracing a new confidence in his existence.
On 30-31 Partner organizations traveled to Limerick in Ireland to join the partners’ meeting of the Rural Youth Cinema project.
The goal of the Rural Youth Cinema Project is to document youth projects on sustainability through ethnographic short documentaries, using the mobile filmmaking methodology.
During the transnational meeting partners discussed the upcoming activities of the project and paid visits to local youth organizations.
The project is funded by the European Union, as part of the KA220-YOU – cooperation partnerships in youth programme.Celebrating Inclusion in Youth Work
In our latest video, we explore the transformative power of inclusivity in youth work. This initiative is designed to empower young individuals from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to participate in meaningful activities, such as participating in a theater group.
The video showcases inspiring stories from youth workers who have benefited from a more inclusive approach. By extending an open call for participants to join the theater group, Mals Vlees aimed to reach those who may not typically have access to such programs, fostering a rich environment of learning and growth.
We emphasize the importance of gender balance and equality, ensuring that both women and men have equal opportunities to contribute and thrive. Our participants share their motivations for joining, highlighting the strength found in community and shared experiences.
Join us in our commitment to building a more inclusive future for youth work. Watch the full video to discover how we’re making a difference and empowering the next generation!
Documentaries by Limerick Youth Service
Watch below the videos created by the youngsters of Limerick Youth Service, documenting their activities for this project and learning the tools of video creation!
Documenting our environment
Documentary making has emerged as a compelling medium for fostering a deeper connection with our environment. Through the lens of a camera, filmmakers can capture the beauty and complexity of nature, highlighting urgent issues while inspiring viewers to engage with their surroundings.
One of the most significant advantages of documentaries is their ability to tell powerful stories that resonate emotionally. Whether it’s showcasing the impact of climate change, celebrating biodiversity, or spotlighting grassroots conservation efforts, these films can create a sense of urgency and responsibility among audiences. They encourage us to reflect on our relationship with the planet and consider our role in its preservation.
Moreover, the process of making a documentary often involves immersive experiences in natural settings. Filmmakers often spend extensive time in the field, gaining firsthand knowledge about ecosystems and communities. This deep engagement not only enriches the narrative but also fosters a personal connection to the environment, prompting filmmakers to advocate for the causes they depict.
As a first pilot of this documenting of our environment, one bachelor student of the UCLL made a short documentary that uses this approach. See the video below!
Rural art vs. Urban art
Art is a reflection of its environment, and nowhere is this more evident than in the contrasting worlds of rural and urban art. Each has its unique characteristics, influences, and narratives that shape the creative expression of its artists.
Rural art often draws inspiration from the natural landscape, local traditions, and the rhythms of country life. Artists in rural settings may use materials readily available in their environment, such as wood, clay, or found objects, resulting in works that are deeply connected to their surroundings. Themes often revolve around agriculture, wildlife, and community life, showcasing the beauty and simplicity of rural existence. This art form can serve as a means of preserving cultural heritage, reflecting local customs, and fostering a sense of identity within small communities.
In contrast, urban art thrives in the dynamic atmosphere of city life. Influenced by the fast-paced environment, diverse cultures, and social issues, urban art often includes graffiti, murals, and installations that challenge societal norms. It is characterized by vibrant colors, bold expressions, and innovative techniques that reflect the energy of the metropolis. Urban artists frequently use their work as a platform for activism, addressing topics like inequality, identity, and environmental concerns. The urban art scene is also more collaborative, with street art festivals and public art projects bringing artists together to transform city landscapes.
While rural and urban art may differ in style and subject matter, both play essential roles in their communities. They serve as powerful forms of expression, offering insight into the lives and values of the people they represent. As artists continue to explore and blend these styles, the lines between rural and urban art may blur, creating new narratives that resonate across diverse audiences.
In essence, whether rooted in the tranquility of the countryside or the vibrancy of city streets, art remains a vital channel for communication and connection, celebrating the rich tapestry of human experience.
In the video below, students from the UCLL explored the difference between rural and urban art, and the impact of the environment upon our appreciation and reflection on art, with this experimentive documentary. Watch the video below!
YouTube Channel online!
We are delighted to announce that the YouTube channel of our Rural Youth Cinema project is out!
https://www.youtube.com/@RuralYouthCinemaProject
The videos made by the rural youth in 3 countries: Ireland, Romania, and Belgium depict the youth perspective on various topics.
—
The project has been funded by the Erasmus + programme of the European Union.
Mals Vlees Hogeschool UCLL Curba de Cultură Limerick Youth Service
The project has started!
The summer of 2022 started with the great delight of hearing the Rural Youth Cinema project would be funded by Erasmus+. In this project, we aim to bring together the world of youth work and social activities, with the art of documentary making. Yet, as we are well aware of the challenges that the new youth is facing today, with climate change being the biggest challenge of them all, we have decided to place a special emphasis on documenting projects on ecological and sustainability themes.
After several initial meetings with all the participating organisations, we all started to experiment with documentary techniques to film our day-to-day activities in youth work. As the new year is fast approaching, the first phase of the project now almost comes to an end. The next phase will be all about analysing and synthesizing our various experiments and starting to develop the first (raw) documentaries. See you in 2023!