“Make your shoes dirty”

In the photo you can see one of our favourite community-centred media training themes – “make your shoes dirty” – meaning – get out of the studio and spend time in the community listening to people’s voices and recording local talent. The picture was taken during a special workshop in September 2021 run by our partner in Uganda, CDC for the Soot Semee project’s newly formed Council of Reference. This the third community-centred media workshop that the Soot Semee team have run since Amplifying Voices last were able to visit (in September 2019).

Getting energised at the workshop, Omugo zone, Sept 2021

However, Soot Semee don’t just repeat these sayings as mantras in the workshops … For the Soot Semee team, “make your shoes dirty” is an authentic way of working. At least twice a week, Soot Semee team members make the 1.5hr (or more) trip each way to the Omugo zone refugee settlements taking recording equipment to listen to stories and feedback, to support local groups making podcast content, and of course to hand over the latest podcasts on SD Cards to the Speakerbox listening groups.

When Barnabas, the project leader first mentioned the Council of Reference to me, I was a bit curious. After all, CDC is a registered charity and has its own board, so why did they decide to have a Council of Reference … who are they and what will they do?

Barnabas, told me, “They are like the board of the Soot Semee project”.

The Council of Reference is made up of respected community members from within the refugee settlements in Rhino camp and the surrounding area along with representatives from local service providers. Members of the Soot Semee core team are also part of the Council.

The Council of Reference’s job is to review the Soot Semee podcasts and also feedback they hear from the community to ensure that the team continues to be responsive to local priorities, and also that they are inclusive of people across the community. We love that Soot Semee are going above and beyond “getting their shoes dirty” and are truly holding themselves accountable to the communities they serve. We also love that they are equipping the Council of Reference to really understand and engage with the Soot Semee work. This is a fantastic example of building local sustainability through good governance and accountability.