Title: Maji Ni Uhai - Water is Life

Description:

The Maji ni Uhai (Water is Life) project was focused upon the Great Ruaha River in Tanzania. This major river used to run all year round, from central Tanzania, to the coast. It goes through the heart of the Ruaha National Park, the second largest in Tanzania, whilst also providing almost half of the country's electricity at the hydroelectric dams downstream from Iringa. However, problems in the catchment for this river have meant that despite no real decrease in rainfall, the river now dries up completely for most of the year. The surrounding area, the industries, the people, the National Park and the environment are all suffering as a result of this. In the surrounding area there are many signs of desertification, drought and environmental degradation.

The main 45 minute film, made in collaboration with Friends of Ruaha Society (FORS) and Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), was completed in November 2004. It was aimed at primary school children in the Ruaha area and is presented in Kiswahili but with English subtitles. Emphasis was placed on children's perspective of water, as mostly it is the children who work with water in the local environment. The film is music rich, all written and performed for the film by local school children. The entries from a local drawing competition about the importance of water were also used, as well as a short animation. The film was narrated by a well known and respected Tanzanian presenter called Godwin Gondwe.

Overview of the main film:

Introduction: the presenter introduces the film, explaining what it is about and what is going to be covered Talking about water: children discuss the importance of water (early primary syllabus).
The Water Cycle: a mixture of archive footage, animation and local examples (later primary syllabus).
The Great Ruaha River: putting the water cycle into context locally through the eyes of a local child.
The large scale problems: using the problems to reinforce educational goals about the water cycle - looking at what happens when you disrupt aspects of the natural water cycle.
The local problems: children discuss the local effects and causes of water shortage.
Children's solutions: positive ideas that young people are putting into practise to address these issues.
Summing up: a positive message from the presenter and children, with music written especially for the film.

In addition to this, a number of other versions have been produced. Some look at particular topics within the larger film, for example: trees' importance in the water cycle, whilst others have been designed to provide variety for FORS when it comes to a screening, looking at animals or "a view from the air". Another has been produced as a short film for the delegates and decision-makers who attend the up-coming conferences focussed on the problems surrounding the Ruaha.

Other versions:

Trees in the Water Cycle: Asks and tackles the question "Why are trees important?"
The Ruaha Problem: Aimed at decision makers. Short and to the point. Also giving visual evidence of current situation.
The Great Ruaha River: As above but aimed at general audience, with more background.
Talking about Water: Children talking about water. Lower primary syllabus.
The Water Cycle: Upper primary syllabus material.
Animals of Ruaha: Fun film looking at some of the animals.
Flying over the Ruaha: Fun film going on a plane journey over the Ruaha
Website clips: for the FORS website (http://www.friendsofruaha.org)
Music Video: One of the songs recorded for the film made into a music video.
Evidence footage: Footage from the flights made available to WCS

Positive results:

The Brock Initiative's primary aims were to:

1) Undertake a pilot project in Tanzania
2) Work in conjunction with a local NGO, ensuring the films' local relevance, active use and ability to assess results.
3) Receive film contributions from both professional and non-professional sources, and encourage others to see the value in it.
4) Promote the practical and cost effectiveness of using film as a conservation tool.
5) Encourage and facilitate similar projects to be undertaken by others in the future.
6) To produce a film that would have real practical value as a conservation tool.

FORS' primary aims for the film were four fold:

1) Reduce water wastage in these local communities.
2) Educate the local community about the major problems surrounding the Great Ruaha River.
3) Increase the impact of their environmental education.
4) Using practical examples, to inspire children and the local community to actively care and take responsibility for their local environment and water resources.

The Tanzanian Ministry & Institute of Education's broader aims were to:

1) Enrich the diversity of teaching methods and resources used by teachers.
2) Encourage teaching of the new environmental syllabus in primary schools

Tanzania "World Water Day" Premieres

The premiere showings of the Brock Initiative's "Maji Ni Uhai (Water is Life)" took place in Tanzania last month to coincide with World Water Day.

A local mobile screening unit was hired to visit all the villages and schools involved and before the film, environmental teachers led a debate on the importance of water. Every school had also prepared an activity to mark the celebration. Activities included: class visits to a water sources, cleaning of taps, marching through the villages holding posters with different water messages and singing water conservation songs they had written.

After the film showing, every school was able to sing the songs from the film. It left practical challenges for the students and local community, and the feedback was that "film was a perfect tool for spreading conservation education to the community." When students were asked if they would be able to pass an exam question on water, they responded that they would be "unable to fail".

The film was shown widely in schools around Ruaha National Park and on Tanzanian TV channels. It is still shown to this day and the song written by a local school still gets played on the radio (Last heard on World Water Day 2010). By 2008, the damaging agriculture in the Usanga wetlands had been stopped by the Tanzanian government and the Ruaha National Park was extended to include this vital catchment area!

"The film evaluations which we have carried out have clearly demonstrated that people are affected in the short time (3-months) by films. It is our opinion that films alone will not change behaviour permanently, but films and their messages will be remembered for a long time (especially where rural people do not see TV) and, if repeatedly reinforced by other education methods (which might be ineffective on their own), then films have been a highly effective partner in conservation education and delivery." Dr David Harper, CBCF

Contact/Links:

Project Co-ordinator: Ben Please - The Brock Initiative: http://brockinitiative.org/tanzania.htm

Maji ni Uhai - Water is Life (music video): http://www.communityconservationfilms.org/index.php?option=com_jomtube&view=video&id=3

Richard Brock
The Brock Initiative
Dumpers Cottage, Chew Magna, Bristol BS40 8SS, UK
Telephone: +44(0)1275 333187
Website: www.brockinitiative.org
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Non-Profit DVD Availability:

Contact Richard Brock should you wish to use this film or any other footage from the Brock Initiative Film Resource Library: http://brockinitiative.org/footagelibrary.htm