In a groundbreaking fusion of technology, governance, and advocacy, the Center for Media and Information Literacy (CMiL) orchestrated the MoJo for Governance Story Summit on November 25, 2023, in Galle. This transformative event convened government bodies, NGO representatives, advocates, and women’s rights activists in a collective effort to confront and find solutions for the pervasive issues surrounding women’s rights. What set this summit apart was its revolutionary emphasis on leveraging Mobile Journalism (MoJo) to amplify women’s voices and communicate powerful messages resonating globally.

Timed strategically to coincide with the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, the summit served as a dynamic platform for meaningful dialogue and

collaborative action. Dignitaries from government bodies, NGOs, Women’s Rights Activists, and representatives from various sectors converged, demonstrating a commitment to protecting and advancing women’s rights, LGBTIQ rights, and addressing broader social issues.

The summit’s central theme revolved around advocating Women’s Rights through Mobile Storytelling, exploring the role of mobile storytelling in shaping narratives, challenging

societal norms, and promoting gender equality. Thought-provoking sessions facilitated engaging discussions that delved into the multifaceted aspects of women’s rights.

MoJo stories presented during the summit covered a spectrum of women’s rights issues, including Gender-Based Violence, educational rights, nutritious diet concerns, estate workers’ issues, minimal female representation in politics, and challenges faced by

transgender non-binary females. The diverse range of topics underscored the power of mobile storytelling in shedding light on crucial issues affecting women.

Government bodies actively engaged in discussions, recognizing the imperative need for collaboration between the public and private sectors to bring about meaningful change. Divisional Secretary Mr. Shafraas praised MoJo’s effectiveness in communicating complex topics to society due to its easy accessibility. Mrs. Renuka from the National Integration Office emphasized the need for sex education, citing instances of young girls facing

challenges due to ignorance.

The summit also addressed local issues, with officials highlighting the need for safe resting areas for students and women in the Matara District. Participants who created MoJo stories addressing these concerns were commended, emphasizing the tangible impact of mobile storytelling.

Media professionals and journalists expressed the necessity to empower young girls in MoJo storytelling, urging NGOs and Government Bodies to provide platforms for their voices.

Women’s rights activists shared personal narratives, stressing the urgency of addressing systemic challenges. Dr. Wimal Dissanayaka, Chairman of the Habaraduwa Development

Foundation, commended participants for bringing women’s rights violations to light through mobile storytelling, acknowledging its resonance across digital platforms.

The summit concluded with a resounding call to action, urging participants and guests to carry the momentum forward. The commitment to utilizing MoJo for governance and advocacy purposes was echoed in the creation of a collaborative framework, fostering ongoing dialogue and partnerships between government bodies, NGOs, and activists.

As we reflect on the MoJo for Governance Story Summit, it becomes evident that mobile storytelling has emerged as a formidable force for change. The stories shared during this summit are not confined to conference halls; they are disseminated through the digital

realm, igniting conversations and motivating individuals to stand up for women’s rights. The summit stands as a testament to the collective power of storytelling and its ability to shape a future where every woman is afforded the rights and dignity she deserves. The program is supported by the U. S. Embassy in Colombo, under its small and mighty grants program managed by Sri Lanka Unites.

The first position is for a Consultant for Baseline Survey who will be responsible for designing and coordinating interviews and surveys with young girls. The role involves analyzing data and preparing a comprehensive baseline report on the confidence levels of young girls in discussing SRHR. Qualifications include a degree in social sciences or public health, proven experience in SRHR baseline surveys, and proficiency in statistical analysis tools.

The second opportunity is for a Consultant to Conduct Study focusing on the SRHR status among young girls in Sri Lanka’s university system. Responsibilities include designing and conducting a comprehensive study using qualitative and quantitative methods. The consultant will interpret study data and prepare a detailed report. Qualifications for this role include a master’s degree in social sciences or public health, proven experience in relevant studies, and expertise in qualitative and quantitative research methods.

To apply for these positions, interested candidates should submit their application and CV to info@cmil.lk by November 25, 2023. Join CMIL to contribute to the empowerment of young girls in their SRHR journey, work in a supportive environment, and be part of a team dedicated to positive social change. Please note that only short-listed candidates will be contacted, and no telephone calls are accepted.

Click here to download the announcement.

The primary goal of this initiative is to equip and empower young climate champions to raise awareness through mobile photography. It specifically highlights the impact of climate change on women and children, with a particular focus on rural areas of Sri Lanka. These vulnerable groups often face the harshest consequences of climate-related challenges. By emphasizing these perspectives, the initiative aims to address the longstanding gender disparity in climate reporting.

This initiative serves as a vital platform for young people to visually document the climate-induced struggles experienced by women and children. Through powerful imagery, it seeks to foster empathy, understanding, and much-needed attention to their plight. Ultimately, this initiative aims to catalyze broader awareness, advocate for policy reform, and promote community-driven adaptation strategies that prioritize the needs of the most affected, aligning with the ‘Promoting Rights and Inclusion for Marginalized Communities’ thematic focus area.

Additionally, the ‘Capture’ initiative continues to champion women’s rights while highlighting the critical intersection of climate justice. It amplifies voices and encourages informed action.

By amplifying the voices of women and children in rural areas, this initiative sheds light on their unique experiences and challenges in the face of climate change. Through mobile photography, these climate champions can capture and share powerful visual narratives with the potential to inspire action and influence policy changes at local and national levels.

The program will engage young climate enthusiasts and journalists, with a specific target of 60 participants from North and Trincomalee, including men and women aged 18–40. There is a special emphasis on individuals originating from or residing in Jaffna, Kilinochchi, Mullaitivu, Mannar, Vavuniya, or Trincomalee who have a keen interest in photography and a strong desire to embark on this exceptional journey. The seminars will provide participants with hands-on training in mobile journalism techniques, encompassing photography, video production, and storytelling.

Furthermore, this program aims to empower women and children in rural areas by providing them with a platform to share their stories and experiences through the powerful medium of mobile photography.

Towards the end of the program, CMIL plans to create a digital platform where young climate champions can express their concerns and dissent through short videos, pictures, and articles.

As the program began, these young women were asked to share their own experiences of women in their communities. The stories they unveiled were both heart-wrenching and powerful. A first-year student at Rajarata University, narrated the struggles faced by girls and women in plantation communities who grappled with menstrual hardships due to poverty. She recounted the shocking reality of young girls having to endure their menstruation without access to sanitary pads, resorting to using waste paper or even tree bark from climbing banjus to makeshift pads. These stories were emblematic of the challenges faced by girls in marginalized rural communities during the ongoing economic crisis.

Another graduate student, a passionate advocate for the rights of sex workers, shed light on how the current economic situation had taken a severe toll on vulnerable women. They faced harassment, legal discrimination, and public shaming while striving to provide for their families. The young advocate emphasized the importance of addressing the systemic factors that compelled these women to engage in such work against their will.

The Mobile Journalism for Governance Training Program aimed to empower these young women to become advocates for women’s rights. Under the guidance of dynamic trainers, 

Mr. Kapila Ramanayaka and Ms. Fathima Shanaz, the participants learned the art of mobile storytelling. Mr. Ramanayaka, a pioneer of mobile journalism in Sri Lanka, imparted hands-on skills, teaching them the essentials of storytelling, shot composition, video editing, and interview techniques using their smartphones.

Ms. Shanaz, a lecturer and passionate advocate for women’s rights, delved into the complexities of governance and women’s rights on a global scale. She discussed the progress made and the persistent challenges, fostering discussions on local and regional contexts. By the end of the training, these 23 women had transformed into storytellers on a mission.

The program’s final day was all about action. Encouraged by their mentors, the participants embarked on their own mobile journalism projects centered on women’s rights and gender equality. They were equipped with the skills to craft powerful stories, address human rights issues, create gender-sensitive narratives, conduct ethical interviews, and engage in field surveys on women’s rights issues.

As the Mobile Journalism for Governance Training Program concluded, it marked the beginning of a new chapter. These 23 empowered women left Unawatuna with a renewed sense of purpose and the skills to amplify their voices through mobile journalism. They carried with them the power to break barriers, challenge norms, and turn women’s rights into a lived reality. Their stories would echo far and wide, demonstrating the transformative power of storytelling and the indomitable spirit of women. 

The impact of this program extended beyond the participants as they became advocates for women’s rights in their communities, igniting a wave of empowerment that would continue to grow. 

The Centre for Media and Information Literacy (CMIL) conducted two mobile short film trainings in Jaffna (24-27 November) and Batticaloa (1-4 December) to build the capacity of 50 young female short filmmakers (26 from North and 24 from the East) to use smartphones to produce compelling short films, addressing various human rights issues affecting women living in marginalized settings.

The trainings are organized under the initiative “Film for Equality” and designed to enhance the capacity of the young women to use smartphones to produce compelling short films, capturing the lived reality of women in marginalized setting, and specifically focusing on how their human rights are systemically violated.

Addressing GBV

During both trainings, the young girls learned how produce short film to address issues such as economic inequality, GBV, climate injustice, digital misogyny, a lack of gender-responsive, political and civic participation through mobile-based short film making. The girls from Jaffna made a practice film on sexual harassment where they discussed how young women are trapped by officials of the corporate and state institutions. Viewing the film, those girls maintained that a culture of zero tolerance is needed to eliminate sexual harassment.

The girls collectively affirmed that fear of sexual harassment discourages women from discovering their own potential; achieving their goals and fulfilling their aspirations. Thanushiya, a young filmmaker and university graduate said “short film in Jaffna society has created a greater awareness amongst the young people on the rights of the LGBTQ community and the young girls. However, creating a culture of respect and recognition is a lifelong challenge”. She further said that “when girls remain in silence, it becomes extremely hard to create constant recognition for equality. 

They learned how to shoot and edit video using freely available mobile applications such as Kinemaster.  Each participant went through an individualized training on developing emotionally powerful characters, story ideas, and converting them into meaningful films reflecting the voice of women.

Breaking Silence

“It is extremely vital for the women to break their silence against Gender-based Violence (GBV) and Human Rights violations and continue to challenge the systemic oppressions against women and young girls. One of the most effective ways to make this happen is to empower women to produce critical narratives articulating their lived realities” said Ayesha Chathurangi, Lecturer at University of the Visual and Performing Arts.

She made this point amongst young women short filmmakers from the Northern Province. When Ayesha said that the majority of women are in greater silence against GBV, almost all the women in attendance endorsed it; many complemented her statement with their personal stories.

Substantiating Ayesha’s statement, the majority of girls from the Northern Province said sexual bribery, sexual harassment on public transport, gender-based discrimination, cyber-misogyny, and denying access to the public sphere, are some of the issues that they face in their daily life. Yet most of the women do not speak out loud about their lived experience, in seeking justice.

Rights to Safe Abortion

The girls from the Eastern province made two exercises films focusing on the right to marital consent of girls and right to safe abortion. Young girls were given the opportunity to contribute to the story development where they shared their personal experience in crafting their script.  Ms. Keshayini Edmond, a participant and short film maker directed the short film about the right to safe abortion which highlighted stigma around the safe abortion. Young girls indicated that some fathers and families dismantle the right of girls to choose a partner on her choice. Some girls said consent of the young girls are not often valued when it comes to marriage.

Prof. Indika Ferdinando, a national and international award-winning Sri Lankan theatre practitioner and film director and Sumudu Malalgama, film producer and director conducted the trainings. The initiative “Film Incubator for Equality” is supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Colombo.

During the training, those female short film filmmakers shared their own insights on how GBV is systematically normalized too.

Divya Rasathurai, a young female short filmmaker stated “when producing films on the lived reality of the women, it is important to use metaphoric approaches and to engage the audience emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and physically. Women should not be portrayed as powerless, helpless, voiceless and vulnerable individual”.

The same trainings will be conducted in the eastern and the southern provinces too. Under the film incubator for equality project, 76 young female films makers will be trained on promoting greater equality and gender justice.

CMIL is working closely with the University of Jaffna, the University of Trincomalee campus, and The University of Visual and Performing Arts, Colombo, in designing a digital curriculum on filmmaking through smartphones and addressing human right issues affecting women. The digital course will be available free of charge to all film enthusiasts in Sri Lanka.

The training focused on building the capacity of young short-film makers, especially in enhancing their ability to use smartphones to produce compelling short films addressing various human rights issues affecting women living in marginalized settings.  The young girls learned to how produce short film highlighting economic inequality, gender-based violence, climate injustice, digital misogyny, a lack of gender-responsiveness, political and civic participation. The larger scope of the training program is to empower those young female short film makers to challenge the social system that is oppressive and discriminatory towards women.

Prof. Indika Ferdinando, a national and international award-winning Sri Lankan theatre practitioner and film director conducted the training. Ms. Ayesha Chathurangi, Lecturer at University of the Visual and Performing Arts was the guest trainer who shared her experience with young girls in this field. Hasara Nuwangi, the acting chairperson of CMIL said “it is extremely vital for the women to break their silence against all forms of gender-based violence and human rights violations and articulate their critical narratives. Short-film is an inspiration tool to challenge the system of oppression and to create a positive narrative.

The initiative Film Incubator for Equality is supported by the Royal Netherlands Embassy in Colombo.

Young female short-film makers learned the art of creating powerful stories advocating women’s human rights. They learned how to shoot and edit video using freely available mobile applications such as Kenemaster.  Each participant was given individualized training on developing emotionally powerful characters, story ideas, and converting them into meaningful films reflecting the voice of women.

During the training, those female short-film makers shared their own insights, thoughts, and life experiences regarding how violence again women and human rights violations faced by women is systematically normalized. Participating in various practical sessions young girls explained how they face violence in public transport. Some shared their experience faced gender-based discrimination. Some indicated that sexual bribery has been a serious issue.

Divya Rasathurai, a young female short-filmmaker stated “when producing films on the lived reality of the women, it is important to use metaphoric approaches and to engage the audience emotionally, intellectually, spiritually and physically. Women should not be portrayed as powerless, helpless, voiceless and vulnerable individual”.

The same trainings will be conducted in the eastern and the southern provinces too. Under the film incubator for equality project, 76 young female films makers will be trained on promoting greater equality and gender justice.

CMIL is working closely with university of Jaffna, university of Trincomalee campus and University of visual and performing arts in designing a digital curriculum on film making through smartphones and addressing human right issues affecting women. The digital course will be available free of charge for all film enthusiasts in Sri Lanka.

The key purpose of this training session was to create awareness among Sri Lankan teachers of the importance and use of virtual labs in their teaching and learning activities. Notably, 400 people attended the training sessions, including professors, instructors, teacher trainers, and administrators in the field of education. The training took place on November 22nd and 23rd, 2022.

Virtual Labs (VL) is simulation-based learning and experimentation platform of the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), India.  The VL provides remote access to labs in various science and engineering disciplines at the undergraduate and postgraduate levels.

In Sri Lankan context, access to the physical laboratory facility is extremely expensive and not often accessible to teachers and students in remote settings. In some context, physical laboratories remain unused because of a lack of adequate resources. Therefore, VL offers a superior substitute by enabling students to interact with interactive simulators and conduct experiments remotely.  The important feature of VL is that it provides access to additional online resources, video lectures, animated demonstrations, and tools for self-evaluation. 

Following CMIL’s extensive social media promotion and internal outreach of the Educational Directors attached to the Ministry of Education in Sri Lanka, 922 individuals applied for the VL training, of which approximately 68% are women teachers. Link to the participants who registered is provided later in this report. The 922 applicants included teachers who taught biological sciences (240), Chemistry (288) and physics (232) and from other subjects.

The inaugural session on 22 November 2022 commenced with the opening address by Dr. B. Shadrach, Director, CEMCA. 

Addressing the virtual audience, he stated that the virtual lab initiative was not the sole work of one partner; rather, it had the active support of close to 12 Indian partners in its conception and design.  The VL can be highly beneficial for students and teachers from various disciplines such as biology, chemistry, physics, mathematics, and ICT education. The VL helps simulation based remote-virtual learning and enhances the ability of the teachers and the students in remote experimentation.

Speaking further, Dr. Shadrach said, “CEMCA is delighted to bring the experience of virtual Labs to Sri Lanka for the benefit of a larger community of teachers. We want this entire webinar to enthuse the Government of Sri Lanka, educational partners, students and teaching community towards ICT-enabled education.

“CEMCA will always be willing to provide support for the Sri Lankan government to replicate the same VL, perhaps in local languages such as Sinhala and Tamil. This is only the beginning, but we are looking forward to working with Sri Lankan partners in bringing the benefit of the VL to the teachers from the far corners.”

Subsequently, Dr. Madhura M. Wehalla, Additional Secretary, Ministry of Education – Sri Lanka, delivered a short speech representing the Ministry.

Dr. Wehalla said “Big thanks to Dr. Shadrach and his team at CEMCA.  I have been working with CEMCA for some time, and I know that the CEMCA staff members are doing a versatile job in supporting the education system and promoting media-based education”. She further noted that “I also want to thank the Directors of the Education Ministry in Sri Lanka for their continuous support. Both the Directors at the Ministry and the teachers from various parts of Sri Lanka are doing their best to support students despite the pandemic and economic crisis. Undoubtedly, the Pandemic has created opportunities for alternative and ICT-enabled forms of education.

Concluding her speech, she added that “I am sure this training will help our teachers to enhance their knowledge of simulation-based teaching and learning. Both teachers and teacher trainers can incorporate the VL in their educational activities”.

Meanwhile, she introduced her successor Ms. Hashini Thalagala, Director Foreign Affairs at the Ministry of Education, as the Sri Lankan Focal point of the CEMCA toward the end of her speech.

Responding to the speech delivered by Dr. Wehalla, Dr. Shadrach said, “We have quite a large number of teachers attending VL training, and it shows the need for technology-driven education. My submission to everyone is to communicate through Ms. Hashini so that we can assist every Sri Lankan teacher in every way possible. We aim to positively respond to the educational and skills development need of Sri Lanka.

Mr. Sanees, Program Manager, VALUE Virtual Labs, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, conducted the virtual training. He provided an overview of virtual labs through his presentation and videos. He demonstrated a variety of experiments in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and Computer Science. These included labs for problem-solving in computer science, parallel LCR circuits in physics, tangent galvanometers in physics, blood grouping experiments in biotechnology, spectrophotometers in chemistry, determination of the viscosity of organic solvents in chemistry, and problem-solving experiments in physics. At the end of the first day’s live session, the resource person shared a set of assignments with the group to enable participants to explore and practice doing experiments in virtual labs.

Mr. Sanees continued day two of the virtual training. Starting the session, he spent 10 minutes recapitulating the first day’s session.  On the second day, he conducted several practical exercises starting from the inorganic chemistry virtual lab. He explained about Acid based titration. He guided the participants to follow the procurers and simulation mechanisms too. He eventually conducted a blood grouping experiment using VL. With the support of visual materials and visual guidance, he explained the ways to conduct various other experiments. While the participants enjoyed this process, they had an opportunity to practice by themselves too. Later, Mr. Sanees conducted two more practical experiments in physical and computer science. With regard to physical science, he explained the Thevenin theorem. He helped participants experiment with DC circuit simulation. Concluding the training, he explained the broad area of virtual labs. A feedback form is circulated among the participants. Successfully, the majority of the participants indicated that the VL training was extremely useful and a timely initiative.

This MoU provides the framework required for both the University of Jaffna and the CMIL to collaborate, share expertise, and work with students and staff to promote activities such as research, training, knowledge-sharing events, and publications in promoting critical news and information consumption. 

The MoU was signed on behalf of both organizations by Prof. S. Srisatkunarajah, Vice-Chancellor, the University of Jaffna, and Dr. M.A.Y. Arafath, Director, Center for Media and Information Literacy (CMIL). Prof. K. Suthakar, Dean, Faculty of Arts; Prof. S. Raguram, Head, Department of Media Studies; Ms. Anusha Sivaneswaran, and Deputy Registrar, Faculty of Arts; as well as lecturers, attended the occasion. 

Under this MoU, both institutions will work together to develop a MIL education assessment toolkit to analyze the strength and viability of MIL education in Sri Lanka and to engage academia and other stakeholders to develop a country-specific strategy paper to promote MIL education in Sri Lanka.

As per the agreement, MIL summits will also organized by the CMIL and the Department of Media Studies at the University of Jaffna as co-hosts for senior academics, students, and research fellows in the media and communication fields from Sri Lankan universities to share their experience in teaching and learning MIL, providing a space for a practical learning experience and ideas to strengthen MIL education in Sri Lanka.  

Speaking at the event, Prof. S. Srisatkunarajah, Vice-Chancellor, University of the Jaffna stated that “It is extremely important to promote MIL amongst the students, enabling them to successfully identify contents that are misleading and not factually supported.” He added, “The Internet has become a polluted ocean with a lot of false information, and not only students but also every citizen should be trained to carefully navigate this space.”. 

Speaking at the same event, Dr. Arafath added, “ Developing critical consumption habit has become very timely”.

“I drew this because our lives are now being driven by social media” explains Jaffna University student D. Mohanraj when asked about the image – his first attempt at doodling. Mohanraj applied the knowledge he gained at a recent training session conducted by the Centre for Media and Information Literacy on doodle art to arrive at this striking image.

The training sessions, delivered by CMIL trainers Saranga Narampanawa and Ruwanthi Nirmani, were attended by Media Studies undergraduates from the University of Jaffna. During the session, participants were given hands-on training on developing various types of doodle art such as identifying story ideas, developing emotionally powerful characters and narratives, following a story arc, developing suitable scenes and applying all of these concepts when drawing doodle art. The participants were also trained on using social media and other media platforms to promote their doodles and spark discussions that engage the larger online community.

Mohanraj was not alone. During a session on social media, almost ⅓ of participants stated that they used social media late at night until they fell asleep or needed to put their phones aside in class. Another prevalent issue that was highlighted through the sessions was the rise of Gender-Based Violence (GBV) in their communities – when asked to draw a prevalent community-based issue of their choosing, the majority of the participants chose the topic of GBV. This included the domestic violence, harassment and discrimination faced by women, girls and the LGBTQIA+ community. 

During the training session, CMIL Director Dr. Arafath stated that he was happy to see the students were concerned about the critical issues affecting their communities such as GBV. “I am sure that giving these future journalists an opportunity to learn digital doodle development to highlight vital community issues affecting them and their communities has given them endless opportunities to exercise their freedom of expression,” he said, adding that these tools should be used widely in advocating for gender equality, sexual and reproductive health, and active citizenship.

CMIL looks forward to seeing the creative doodles these young journalists will create in the future to illustrate their stories. 

These training sessions were made possible by the EU-funded inSPIRE project which aims to empower future journalists from four Sri Lankan Universities (the Universities of Peradeniya, Jaffna, Sri-Jayewardenepura and the South Eastern University) by training them on core skills and competencies related to journalism. The program is implemented by HELVETAS in partnership with SDJF. CMIL is the training provider for the project.