Learning4Peace/ISTREET LAB

skype chat with Mervin Mongrel - http://www.mongrelstreet.org (had some trouble loading this today)

About The iStreet Lab
 Visiting Street Corners in troubled areas
 * prototype / demo developed - Fletcherland
 * programme grew out of the Container Project - a 40-foot shipping container, that Mervin currently works in ~ yes, they have natural light!.
 * the container didn't have wheels, so they came up with another solution to go into the community...
 * launching soon - focus on peace / conflict resolution (youth focus)
 * a lot of street violence in the communities
 * put an intervention in the 'street corners
 * a lot of emotional energy - we give them an opportunity to use those energies to be more productive
 * if you take out that energy, it reduces / eliminates the violence
 * looking to make alliances
 * UNESCO onboard - provided equipment
 * met with University of West Indies - Violence Prevention Alliance (Mervin says they were very interested)
 * discussions with Cable and wireless
 * COL - peace / conflict resolution learning materials (open Educational Resources- OERs)
 * WikiEducator - learn wiki skills
 * links with Banff Centre (Mervin has presented there)
 * Ian Turner?
 * we want to implement the project in different communities
 * 1) build creative media, create rhythms - among youths who are doing it anyways
 * live video production
 * 1) develop skills - use lab and equipment as tryout space
 * 2) community engagement
 * have the ability to do broadcast FM Radio and Low Band TV (UHF)
 * will enable us to broadcast our own shows or Learning Packages
 * storytelling - already happening

Structure

 * garbage van on wheels
 * 5 laptops (i.e., 2 youth per laptop)
 * 2 facilitators

Workshop (1-day)

 * 10 people per workshop - constrained by # of laptops
 * 4-day workshop
 * Day 1 - still recruiting people -
 * Day 2 - skills development - learning the tools to do video production / video production
 * Day 3 -
 * Day 4 -
 * Day 5 - public presentation to the community

Workshop (4-weeks)

 * ideally, 4-week workshop - really get community buy-in and participation
 * est. cost: $5,000 USD to cover all expenses - including meals for all participants, and transportation

Planning

 * development of posters
 * development of recruitment strategy - you need to make connections with people on the ground
 * Day 1 - People come by, and are curious - 3 people confirmed
 * Day 2 - People understand what's going on, bring their friends - 5 people confirmed
 * Day 3 - Full complement of committed persons

Outputs

 * Fletchersland videos will go online by Nov. 2008
 * No. of workshops
 * No. of people trained - video, wiki, etc.
 * Posters
 * Stories, videos, learning packages

Links

 * http://www.container-project.net
 * http://www.mongrelstreet.org
 * http://www.mongrelx.org