BUILDING BRIDGES
2009 / 2010, Kenya
Following on from the Unsung Peace Heroes Campaign (http://peaceheroes.ushahidi.com) which was a reaction to the post conflict violence in 2008, the Dutch NGOs Butterfly Works and Media Focus on Africa recently (March 2010) launched their response to the upcoming elections in Kenya
Building Bridges believes that everyone can
make a change and contribute to a peaceful togetherness. No matter how big or
small the initiative, every little action makes a change and foster a peaceful
togetherness. By providing a unique mapping tool Kenyans can use to publish and
update their peace activities online or via SMS, Building Bridges is providing
the platform and direct support to map all peace initiatives and connect people
across Kenya in their mutual strove for peace!
The interactive platform
allows for networking opportunities and provides information on related
activities in people’s regions.
It is accompanied by a nationwide
cross-media campaign Building Bridges aims to reach out to all Kenyans. People
who find it difficult to participate due to e.g. illiteracy or limited access
to media receive assistance through our Nairobi based support team. Community
Radios carry the message to remote areas of the countries and we are constantly
striving to reach to as many Kenyans as possible.
Awards campaign and going forward
The initial awards campaign will run
for three months, culminating in a prize-giving ceremony for the most active
peace initiatives in August.
The Building Bridges Peace
Mapping platform will then continue online and with all Kenyans who make it theirs. We
wish the platform to transform into the networking place for peace initiatives
throughout the country.
Building Bridges:
The Mapping Tool
The campaign website provides various ways of linking individuals and
organisations. The mapping tool gives an overview of Peace Building
Activities throughout the country. It makes use of Ushahidi’s crowd-sourcing information system. The search functionality includes
selection on location, fields of expertise and type of activity and allows for
people to connect via the integrated forum feature. Through ‘Yellow Pages’ one
can find the contact details of professional operating organisations for
information or assistance. Furthermore, people can receive SMS alerts for peace
activities in their region.
Campaign Prizes
All registered peace initiatives will be recognised and have their efforts
promoted on our online mapping platform. In addition, a jury will select the
winners of our cash prizes. Building Bridges offers three cash prize awards.
The results will be publicised through an advert in The Standard newspaper, and
winners will receive their prizes during a prize-giving event in Nairobi.
Individuals stand to win Ksh. 50,000/= and organisations can win Ksh.
100,000/= to Ksh. 150,000/= to support their peace building cause. You
can register by:
Send an SMS to shortcode 5447 (on Safaricom and
Zain, no extra
cost) or E-mail: act@buildingbridges.co.ke
or via Mail: P.O. Box 660-00606, Nairobi, Kenya
Social Media
Please join us on Twitter and become a Fan on Facebook
The first awareness
creation campaign will run till the end of July, after which the jury will
select the winners. Print material and existing Radio and TV programmes are
used to promote the campaign, notably the soap opera series ‘The Team’ on
Citizen TV (http://www.theteamkenya.com) and the ‘Sambaza
Peace’
project. 20,000 flyers and 2,000 posters will be distributed throughout the
country through partner organisations. The campaign is receiving high radio
attention and has been covered by several national radio stations and receives
support through many community radios throughout the country.
Our Nairobi based Team, Rukia, Tobias and Lilian are giving direct
support to people without own media access and is actively involved in
community gathering visits etc.
Promotion & Timelines
The campaign will
launch on April 12th with a promotional advertisement
in The Standard newspaper. Registration will run for three months, after
which the jury will select the winners. Print material and existing
Radio and TV programmes are used to promote the campaign, notably the
soap opera series ‘The Team’ on Citizen TV (http://www.theteamkenya.com)
and the ‘Sambaza
Peace’ project 20,000
flyers and 2,000 posters will be distributed throughout the country
through partner organisations. People who find it difficult to
participate due to e.g. illiteracy or limited access to media will be
assisted by facilitators from NairoBits
Blogs
Thanks
to the Afrinnovator, Ushahidi, TechMasai, Moses Kemibaro & Ushahidi blogs for
covering the Campaign and helping spread the word:
Previously we implemented the ‘Unsung Peace Heroes’ campaign
in 2008/09 aimed at identifying and recognizing those who played a
positive role during and immediately after the post elections chaos in
Kenya http://peaceheroes.ushahidi.com
For more information online:
http://buildingbridges.co.ke
