Jai Hind
Academy
To be able to help India and its heroes (people as well as organisations), one needs to be able to first understand what our grassroots issues are and then, who is working on them. This understanding is typically required by the government and the state, volunteers, funders, prospective staff, people who benefit from this work, as well as ordinary citizens. These audiences come from different backgrounds and may speak different languages, as well as receive communication and consume content in diverse ways.
For example, an uneducated woman in rural India who may be a beneficiary of the work of an organization understands the work of this organisation in a very different way, compared to the local collector or politician. The corporate executive in the nearby city, responsible for deciding how CSR funds should be spent, wants a very different presentation, compared to a volunteer looking to work and learn how waste management works.
To be able to communicate with such diverse audiences isn’t easy for anyone today owing to both the lack of time and interest on the part of the audiences, as well as the lack of training and tools available to grassroots organisations, especially digital tools. Some well-resourced organisations may be able to do this themselves, but most struggle to communicate.
How do we then make sure that the work and stories of thousands of organisations involved in grassroots work across India are available to us? How do we support these organisations so they can continuously learn and use communication tools, media and strategies to further their work?
The Jai Hind Academy is being set up with the purpose of helping social sector organisations communicate better with their audiences. The Academy is currently offering a Storytelling and Filmmaking course i.e., Democracy Digital.
A hands-on workshop for budding filmmakers from the Social Sector
This 10-day residential intensive training programme is meant for budding video professionals. This course will not only introduce participants to the basics of documentary filmmaking and digital storytelling but also allow them to explore and think about the issues that concern us all.
To attend this, all one needs are common resources like a smartphone, a laptop and access to social media. The course will equip participants with the basics of videography, sound recording, video editing, graphics and online streaming besides conducting research, scriptwriting, interviewing etc. A certificate will be awarded to all participants.
Resource Persons conducting the Cohort:
Yousuf Saeed, is a seasoned documentary filmmaker with over 30 years of experience in Indian media and arts. He began his career in the 1990s with science films and TV programmes like Turning Point (on Doordarshan), and later made several documentary films that have been shown in international film festivals. More details about Yousuf’s work can be seen at http://yousufsaeed.com
Atul Bokhandi, specializes in new media technologies. With over 5 years of experience under his belt, spanning across documentaries, ads, music videos and brand films, he brings insights on modern day storytelling, disruptive execution techniques and communication tools.
FAQs about Democracy Digital
This programme is for the
- People who are in the roles related to communication,
- People who lead teams who, in turn, are focused on communicating with communities or other audience groups, and
- People who are evolving into roles that require them an understanding of communication.
Note: With the objective of training grassroots teams to create more engaging as well as impactful messaging, it is important that organisations send people who are critical in this space.
Candidates must understand either English or Hindi.
It is a 10-day residential programme; however, after including a Sunday break, it goes on for 11 days, and the candidates are allowed to leave on the 11th day after 5 PM.
The programme takes place at the Jai Hind Academy, Dehradun. Location: Jai Hind Academy, Azim Premji University
The programme is offered free of cost. The tuition, boarding, and lodging of all development sector participants is borne by the Jai Hind Project.
No, the organisation or the candidate is responsible for covering their travel expenses to and from Dehradun. However, once you reach Dehradun, the Jai Hind Project will cover your accommodation costs.
The Jai Hind Academy is located approximately 45 minutes to 1 hour away from the Airport and ISBT. The railway station is 30 minutes away.
No, please. Since this is a fully residential programme and requires that all ten days be spent together, candidates are required to arrive a day before the cohort begins and leave on the last day of the programme after 5 PM.
Classes start at 10 AM and conclude at 6 PM. Classes often go beyond these times and may extend based on the sessions or topics being covered.
We offer breakfast at 8:00 AM, lunch at 1:30 PM, snacks at 4:00 PM, and dinner at 8:00 PM.
We offer vegetarian meals.
Our course is divided into different modules that cover theoretical and practical aspects of each topic. Hence, to have a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of each module, it is necessary to have a duration of 10 days.
Yes, the accommodation facility is safe for women. There is a full-time coordinator on site.
The residential rooms on campus are designed with bunk beds, allowing each room to accommodate 4-6 people.
Candidates become part of the Jai Hind Alumni, after learning the skills of filmmaking and digital storytelling. Participants are encouraged to make films about their organisation, the issues they are working on and use the learning to communicate better. The Jai Hind Project may choose to distribute these films through its social media channels.
OUR ONGOING COURSES
OUR UPCOMING DEMOCRACY COHORT : 10 Feb - 19 Feb ' 25
REGISTER HERE
Last Date of registration - 20 Jan '25
A hands-on workshop for budding filmmakers from the Social Sector
This 10-day residential intensive training programme is meant for budding video professionals. This course will not only introduce participants to the basics of documentary filmmaking and digital storytelling but also allow them to explore and think about the issues that concern us all.
To attend this, all one needs are common resources like a smartphone, a laptop and access to social media. The course will equip participants with the basics of videography, sound recording, video editing, graphics and online streaming besides conducting research, scriptwriting, interviewing etc. A certificate will be awarded to all participants.
Resource Persons conducting the Cohort:
Yousuf Saeed, is a seasoned documentary filmmaker with over 30 years of experience in Indian media and arts. He began his career in the 1990s with science films and TV programmes like Turning Point (on Doordarshan), and later made several documentary films that have been shown in international film festivals. More details about Yousuf’s work can be seen at http://yousufsaeed.com
Atul Bokhandi, specializes in new media technologies. With over 5 years of experience under his belt, spanning across documentaries, ads, music videos and brand films, he brings insights on modern day storytelling, disruptive execution techniques and communication tools.
FAQs ABOUT DEMOCRACY DIGITAL
Democracy Digital programme is a 10-day residential programme on Filmmaking and Digital Storytelling for people working in the development sector, which runs every alternate month at the Jai Hind Academy, Dehradun.
This programme is for the
- People who are in the roles related to communication,
- People who lead teams who, in turn, are focused on communicating with communities or other audience groups, and
- People who are evolving into roles that require them an understanding of communication.
Note: With the objective of training grassroots teams to create more engaging as well as impactful messaging, it is important that organisations send people who are critical in this space.
Admissions to the cohort begin with nominations. Interested candidates who pass the initial interview with the Democracy Digital Team will receive a screening assignment. This assignment must be completed and submitted on the day of joining. Should the candidates fail to complete this pre-assignment, their admission will be revoked.
The 10-day cohort includes several assessment stages, and it is essential for candidates to achieve the minimum passing score in each. We hold the conviction that all participants are committed to applying their knowledge. These assessments evaluate both their understanding and their potential application of what they have learned.
Candidates must understand either English or Hindi.
It is a 10-day residential programme; however, after including a Sunday break, it goes on for 11 days, and the candidates are allowed to leave on the 11th day after 5 PM.
There are 4-6 bed mixed dormitories, meaning men and women will be sharing the room in a co-living arrangement.