Communicating An End To Violence: Film Illustrates Award-Winning Project By Saferworld

Saferworld says it is ‘incredibly proud’ to have won a BOND International Development Award for its project to reduce violence around the Kenyan national elections in 2013. The project was brought to life with a video produced with the help of Birmingham-based Be Inspired Films, demonstrating the power of video to communicate complex messages to awards judges and the public alike.

Following the violence surrounding the 2007-08 elections, last year Saferworld worked with communities, election managers and peace and security teams to build ‘peace task forces’ in potential violence hotspots, which were able to strengthen relationships and coordination efforts, increase preparedness and react quickly to indications of growing tensions.

“The preventing election violence project made a real difference,” explains Elizabeth Bourne, Saferworld’s Communications Officer. “The areas Saferworld worked in were those that saw horrific and substantial violence around the 2007-08 elections and there was a high likelihood of this happening again around the 2013 elections.”

A videographer in Kenya captured interviews and scenes from the elections before the footage was edited into a three-minute video – named What We Need is Peace – by Be Inspired Films.

“Be Inspired took our idea and script and used some really interesting concepts to bring it to life, managing to get across the complex issues we wanted to include within such a short space of time and that the main message of collaboration between the communities came out strongly within the video without the need for a narrator,” says Elizabeth Bourne.

“The issues Saferworld works on are complex and sensitive and therefore can often be quite challenging to communicate. I think the Kenya Election Security video really shows that video can be a brilliant way to get across what we do in an engaging way, without diluting the complexity. It also opens up new audiences to the work we do.”

Secretary of State Justine Greening presented Saferworld with the BOND International Development Award for innovation and collaboration, a category that also included BBC Media Action and EveryChild, on May 12th. The award judges said that Saferworld’s film ‘powerfully illustrated how communities, local authorities and security providers can work together to solve joint problems once trust has been established’.

“We are delighted to be part of the team effort that has led to winning this award,” comments Ravinol Chambers, Founder of Be Inspired Films. “I lived in East Africa for two years so seeing the great work Saferworld are doing there being recognised is fantastic!”

Be Inspired Films works with charities, NGOs and corporations all over the world to film, edit and stream professional videos, telling powerful social stories. Other clients include Deutsche Bank, Nesta, NHS and TEDx.