Jamac Digital Cinema

JAMAC DIGITAL CINEMA -  Promotion of human rights and strengthening citizenship

Country: Brazil

Project initiated in: 2009

Presented by: AECID

Partners: Centro Cultural de España in São Paulo, local partners

Project budget: EUR 27 000

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// Context

The JAMAC association was created in 2003 in the working class district of Jardim Miriam, on the outskirts of Sao Paulo. This association, which is primarily intended for local residents in the district and its surroundings, is a centre for promoting artistic activities, training and exchanges, focussing heavily on local social issues. The centre was established with the idea of enabling artistic and cultural transformation on an individual and social level.

The Spanish Centre for Culture in Sao Paulo [Centro Cultural de España], in collaboration with two local operators in the audiovisual sector, created the Digital Cinema project within the JAMAC, with the intention of increasing awareness of the general public to Human Rights and citizenship.

// Project objectives

Establishing a platform for reflection, discussion and action with a view to raising the awareness of the local population to problems related to Human Rights violation and the means available for defending against such abuse.

Organising audiovisual script writing and creation workshops, conferences and debates, distribution and citizen participation activities focussing on issues relating to violence, Human Rights violations and citizenship.

Providing professional training in audiovisual production techniques for local residents and thereby contributing towards the creation of sustainable activity in this domain at a local level.

// Action and impact

Completion of two cycles of audiovisual productions and animation workshops, with twenty participants in each cycle.

During year one of the project, 39 people were trained in audiovisual techniques and were subsequently able to find employment thanks to the skills acquired.

Workshops produced a short film on the issue of Human Rights, presented during various international festivals and has been awarded 1st prize at the 21st International Short-Film Festival in Sao Paulo.

The wide-scale participation of the local population in video club sessions, debates and conferences organised by JAMAC, leading to increased level of awareness on issues relating to Human Rights, violence and the role of audiovisual and the media in the social dynamic. Hundreds of participants in project related activities ensured the distribution of these ideas at a local level.

JAMAC Digital Cinema has become, in a short space of time, an area for cultural creation, and a platform for exchange and dialogue on fundamental issues for stability and social cohesion of the local population in Jardim Miriam. The extremely local nature and participative approach of the project has ensured wide-scale involvement of the local population in the project.  

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