Organisational Profile
Community Podium is a solutions-based non-profit media organisation with a network of community reporters covering Matabeleland. Our vision is to be a leading network of content creators telling everyday community stories in remote areas. Our mission is to empower communities in Southern Zimbabwe to freely express themselves and play their part in governance and democratic processes. Our formation is premised on the need for a unifying platform for community content creators and citizens to: promote access to information and the inclusion of marginalized voices in fighting for human rights and accountability in Matabeleland. Our focus is to provide a voice to those marginalised and underrepresented in democratic and governance issues. We support independent content creators by providing them with training and a safe working space, enhancing knowledge-based advocacy thereby strengthening the capacity of marginalised citizens to hold the public sector accountable. The organisation’s network has over 60 community content creators and storytellers. Our organizational structure comprises a management board, secretariat in charge of its programming and community content creators’ clubs.
Activity areas of focus
We major in telling rural community stories in Matabeleland and we also cover national news. We have covered a wide range of stories including challenges faced by women and children, education, health, land degradation, human and wildlife conflict, climate change, elections, among other pertinent issues that are ignored by mainstream media. Our stories can be accessed on our website.
We have also produced documentaries highlighting the untold stories of marginalised communities in Matabeleland that include human and wildlife conflict, climate change, poor healthcare, lack of infrastructure and education. One of our documentaries, Of elusive healthcare, education and water prompted Citizens Initiative to set up a Go Fund Me which has so far raised $7 842 for the building of Gwelutshena Secondary School in Nkayi.
Our weekly newsletter is shared in all districts of Matabeleland and Bulawayo via the Whatsapp platform as well as nationally on Twitter and Facebook. We have Whatsapp groups in Hwange, Lupane, Tsholotsho, Gwanda, Matobo, Victoria Falls, Bulawayo, Nkayi, Beit Bridge, Plumtree, Binga and Bulawayo.
Read the full profile here (109KB PDF)
Source: Community Podium
