Imali Ngusale is a communicator and multimedia producer with a passion for social change, particularly engaging youth in development in sub-Saharan Africa. Based in Kenya, she is a 2018 graduate of PRB’s Youth Her Multimedia Fellowship (see her final project) here). We spoke to Imari about her interest in leveraging multimedia to address important social topics and the impact of her PRB Fellowship. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Q: How did you become interested in multimedia production?
A: I have always had an insatiable thirst for creativity and love the idea of ​​innovating through sound, video, and humor. At a young age, I was fascinated by visual entertainment. In fact, entertainment was one of the ways I learned about important topics. The first thing I learned about sexuality was from a documentary. The information was conveyed very casually, but the message was very clear. If you ignore information about sexual and reproductive health, you may have no future.
I learned about sexually transmitted infections (STIs) when I was 7 or 8 years old. As a child, I understood that sexually transmitted infections can lead to serious complications, especially with limited treatment options. When I was in elementary school, PEPFAR and other USAID-funded initiatives were still in their infancy, and people living with HIV/AIDS were dying at an alarming rate. Every time someone dies from HIV/AIDS, that person is simply dehumanized and not given a proper burial or respect. I think our parents avoided talking about sexually transmitted diseases because this type of information was not taught in school.
Q: How did you become involved in PRB’s Youth Multimedia Fellowship Program?
A: I first met PRB staff in Bali, Indonesia, and they were very passionate about amplifying youth voices. We exchanged contact information and started following PRB on Twitter. I learned about the details of the exchange meeting online. Her colleague at DSW Germany, a nonprofit organization focused on youth issues, also emailed me the same information. Communication Even though I wasn’t a member of his team, I was always presenting ideas to him. And he thought I could improve my communication skills and grow from being a PRB master. PRB had previously held in-house training for his DSWs in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, which had left a good impression on my colleagues.
Q: What is the most impactful thing you learned from the PRB Fellowship?
A: By learning and developing my skills, I have learned that dreams only become reality when you take bold steps to pursue them. PRB has provided a unique e-learning platform that sets the stage for thinking differently in a practical way. Before my PRB training, I rarely used phones to shoot documentaries. In fact, I never thought about collecting B-roll (ancillary footage for videos) on my phone until I took the training. PRB also provided me with Vimble (smartphone gimbal, or camera support) so I could create unique camera movements.
Additionally, I had always focused on “traditional” physical meetings, so I had never thought about publishing my work on YouTube. This changed with training. This was very rewarding as it also gave me the opportunity to make mistakes and quickly learn from them, problem solve and come up with solutions with my girlfriend Alana Barton, Media Program Director at PRB .
Q: What are you most proud of?
A: I am proud to have learned new skills such as end-to-end production. I still use the notes from my training to create scripts for animations and voice intonation techniques for voiceovers.
Q: How are you currently using those skills?
A: PRB’s mentorship training was unique because it included classwork and lab work that required me to apply what I learned. This type of learning improved my audio recording skills to producer level, allowing me to create The African Animator YouTube channel, which features videos on various social issues affecting the continent. I have also supported other initiatives such as the CHReaD coalition project of Amref Health Africa, the largest international health NGO based in Africa.
Q: Who is your audience?
A: My audience is diverse. Initially, I targeted teenagers because I wanted to discourage suicidal thoughts and irresponsible sexual behavior. But then I realized that the problem I was working on was cross-cutting. The development of various thematic areas attracted a larger audience than I had imagined.
Q: What advice would you give to those interested in youth advocacy?
A: Always do your best to think creatively, be willing to learn, and share what you learn with others. Sharing skills increases proficiency. Mastering gives you expertise. And once you become an expert, you can keep your brand as a reference point. Those who want to enter the multimedia industry should know that it is a very interesting career to pursue. But there is no substitute for passion and hard work. Determine your media goals and niche target your audience by considering their age, gender, income, and place of residence. This will help you establish an authoritative brand in your field.