The Community Video Unit (CVU) is a unique space for local communities to voice their stories of joy, strife or tribulations. Here communities create, control and disseminate their stories through the medium of videos. It comprises of 6 – 8 community members who are trained as full time Community Video Producers. They produce a ‘Video Film’ on different social issues in every 2months. These films are screened in around 25 bastis or villages on widescreen projectors to up to 10,000 people. Every film sparks debates, discussions and ultimately actions towards a positive change. Drishti collaborates with different non-profit organizations in India to set up a Community Video Unit, within communities they work.

HOW TO START? 

It generally takes a period of six to eight months to set up a Community Video Unit (CVU). The process is as follows:

• You write to us expressing your interest or send us a proposal.
• We review the proposal and get back to you with information on a    tentative budget and how the CVU works.
• You organize to allocate your funds and resources and agree to launch the CVU.
• You send us a tentative list of 40 villages or slum areas where the CVU is expected to run.   
• We come for a site assessment and mutually identify/shortlist 25 villages or slum areas where the CVU will work, taking into account some predefined criteria. 
• We eventually finalize plans and sign a Memorandum of Understanding, committing both parties to the process.
• We mutually hire 6-8 community members as your Community Video Producers based on some predetermined criteria.
• You purchase and/or allocate all the equipment necessary from our equipment list.

• We recruit a full time Video Trainer for your CVU, and conduct an intensive one to two months-‘Training of Trainers’ to ensure that the person is trained in all aspects of Community Media. He will work on-site for 18 months.