Mobile Cinema Project
This project is a groundbreaking multi-film initiative designed to educate and raise awareness about critical health, rights and topical issues in Nigeria. This is done through mobile film screening screenings that will travel to various campuses and communities in Nigeria.
Introduction
Shades of Us Storytelling Initiative for African People (“Shades of Us”) has a Mobile Cinema project which is a groundbreaking multi-film initiative designed to educate and raise awareness about critical health, rights and topical issues in Nigeria. This is done through mobile film screening screenings that will travel to various campuses and communities in Nigeria.
In the pilot phase of this project, Shades of Us’ primary objective is to utilize short films to disseminate information and stimulate meaningful discussions about Period Poverty, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and Infertility.
Shades of Us has held one screening focused on sexual abuse and mental health with its short films, Report It, The Dumps, That Whole Area of Grey, and Flip the Switch.
The project will replicate these screenings with four new films – Flow, Quick Sand, Osheyiza, and Odachi’s Burden – in small, relatively intimate settings and provide a platform to discuss these health, rights and topical issues among young people who hold the power to change narratives in African, among Africans and with people of African descent.
FLOW
The first film, “Flow” aims to highlight the challenges women and girls face in accessing menstrual hygiene products and the impact it has on their day-to-day lives. It also addresses the social stigma that surrounds menstruation, with the goal of promoting access to menstrual hygiene products and increasing awareness about this issue.
QUICK SAND
The second film, “Quick Sand” is a short film designed to increase understanding and support for women living with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). The film highlights the challenges women with PCOS face, including social stigma and a lack of awareness surrounding the condition, with the objective of raising awareness and providing support for women living with PCOS in Nigeria.
OSHEYIZA
The third film, “Osheyiza” is a documentary that sheds light on the rehabilitation of patients and survivors of Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) in Nigeria. The film emphasizes the challenges faced by these women and the importance of providing holistic support to ease their reintegration into society without discrimination. The goal is to increase awareness about VVF and promote different health interventions and rehabilitation programs to support these women.
ODACHI’S BURDEN
The fourth film, “Odachi’s Burden” is a short film that explores infertility in women with Mayer-Rokitansky-Küster-Hauser syndrome. The film will explain the rarity of the symptom and the inability of women with this symptom to carry their own child. The goal is to increase awareness about lesser heard causes of infertility and promote different health interventions programs to support these women.
The Mobile Cinema with Three Films project aims to reach a wide audience and provide education and support to women and girls in Northern Nigeria. The films will be screened in different communities and followed by sensitization sessions to provide additional information and support. The project will work with local partners to ensure the sustainability of the intervention and create long-term impact.
Goals
Behavioral Objectives
Gap Analysis
Period poverty, Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS), and Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) are critical women’s health issues that affect many women globally, including those in Africa.
Period poverty refers to the lack of access to sanitary products, facilities, and education surrounding menstruation. A survey by UNICEF in 2019 found that 36% of Nigerian women and girls lack access to menstrual hygiene products. According to a study published in BMC Women’s Health bmcwomenshealth.biomedcentral.com/articles, 25% of adolescent girls in Nigeria miss school during their menstrual cycle. In a survey of 1,000 girls in Nigeria conducted by Plan International, 60% reported feeling ashamed and embarrassed during their period, and 30% said they had to improvise with materials like old clothes, rags, or newspapers. The same survey by Plan International also found that 40% of girls reported being teased or bullied during menstruation, leading to feelings of low self-esteem and decreased school attendance.
PCOS on the other hand is a hormonal disorder that affects women’s reproductive systems, leading to irregular menstrual periods, excess hair growth, and weight gain. In Africa, the prevalence of PCOS is estimated to be between 2.2% and 26.3%, with a higher prevalence rate reported in Nigeria at 26.3%. It is also a leading cause of infertility in women. However, PCOS is not the only cause of infertility in women.
Vesico Vaginal Fistula (VVF) is a severe childbirth injury that affects many women in Nigeria. A study conducted in northern Nigeria reported that the prevalence of VVF was 1,900 cases per 100,000 women. This injury often leads to chronic incontinence, social isolation, and other physical and psychological consequences.
It is crucial to address these issues through interventions such as education, advocacy, and access to adequate healthcare to improve the lives of affected women and girls.
Audience
Reach
Shades of Us seeks to reach 5,000 students and other young people across campuses, communities, and other areas where young people can be found in Nigeria by 2030.
Partnerships
Shades of Us seeks to work closely with organizations and experts who can provide resources and support for women and girls affected by period poverty, PCOS, infertility and VVF. This includes fertility specialists who can provide medical advice and treatment options, mental health experts who can offer counseling and support for the emotional challenges that come with these conditions, and donor agencies who can provide funding and resources to support the sustainability and expansion of the project.
Through these partnerships, the Mobile Cinema project aims to provide a comprehensive approach to addressing the health, social, rights and economic challenges faced by women and girls affected by these conditions in Nigeria.
Please send an email to info@shadesofusafrica.org if you are (or know) any individual, group, organization or agency willing to partner with Shades of Us to achieve this goal.
