Bangladesh - Banchte Shekha

Bulu, a field worker with the women's organization Banchte Shekha, wanted to tell a story. Specifically, she wished to make a videotape about Nasima, a village woman who had been beaten by her husband and chased from his house. Bulu interviewed Nasima "on location" in her village, rather than in the privacy of her organization's office, with the intention of generating negative public sentiment against the abusive husband.

The finished video was used strategically. Bulu showed it to the husband's neighbors in order to present Nasima's experience to them, as well as to pressure them not to give false testimony in the village court where Nasima's case would be heard. In most domestic cases, the court in the husband's village has jurisdiction; since women generally marry outside their own villages, they have very little influence in that court, while their husbands' families may have a great deal. The tape about Nasima gave her a stronger voice in a situation in which she would otherwise have had very little power. In addition, the tape is now being used to raise awareness among rural women and Banchte Shekha field workers about violence against women and women's human rights.

Bulu, who years before had been deserted by her own husband, is one of several Banchte Shekha field workers and members who have taken part in participatory video training carried out by Communication for Change. Since the training workshop, Bulu has continued to use video extensively in support of Banchte Shekha's legal aid activities. In her hands, a camcorder is a powerful tool for advocating for women's rights.

Partner Organization Profile

Banchte Shekha is a non-governmental organization in western Bangladesh. With a membership of over 20,000, the organization provides skills training and support to poor rural women, many of whom have experienced domestic violence, desertion, dowry abuse, and rejection by their families. Banchte Shekha's diverse activities - ranging from programs in savings, credit, and income generation to literacy, health, and legal advocacy - reflect the organization's commitment to enabling women to support themselves and live with dignity. As individuals, Banchte Shekha members have learned important new skills; in forming groups, they have learned to save money collectively and use the collateral to take out loans. They have come to understand that, when joined, their voices are heard clearly and carry weight.

Project Implementation

In April 1992, C4C led a participatory video workshop in Jessore, Bangladesh for 16 Banchte Shekha field workers and community members. Among the training participants were ten village women from different educational, social and religious backgrounds. Many of them, however, had shared similar experiences: early marriage, spousal abuse or abandonment - often stemming from dowry issues - and financial hardship for themselves, their parents and their children. These experiences would be reflected in the videos they learned to create.

Although none of the participants had previous experience with video, during the three-week training each produced his or her own program. Each learned to operate the equipment (a Hi-8 camcorder package and playback gear), conduct interviews, make simple, "in-camera" edited programs, present video playbacks, and lead discussions about the programs and the community issues they addressed. Perhaps most importantly, participants learned the importance of teamwork and mutual support in planning, shooting and reviewing videotapes.

The three C4C trainers were joined during the first week of the workshop by Neelam Dave and Leelaben Datania from the Self-Employed Women's Association (SEWA) in Ahmedabad, India, another partner organization of C4C. [Learn about Video SEWA] The two guest trainers shared their experiences as grassroots video producers and described the ways in which they incorporate video activities into SEWA's work.

Most of the workshop participants chose to shoot their individuals programs in their own villages, thereby introducing their communities to video and its potential. One participant, Muriam, organized all the women in her somiti (local association) to help with her production on nutrition. The villagers were impressed and suggested other programs she could make.

In the months following the workshop, the participants produced diverse programs and discovered important uses of video within their communities. In particular, video was found to be a powerful tool in support of Banchte Shekha's legal aid program.

In one instance, a man became involved with a young woman extramaritally, then disavowed paternity and refused to provide financial support when she gave birth to his child. After Banchte Shekha turned its attention - and its video camera - on the village court proceedings, the man involved reversed his position and promised child support.

This tape, and subsequent Banchte Shekha productions, have helped women learn about alternatives to being abandoned or abused. Through these programs, women can see how their peers have gained justice through village-level mediation and through the courts.

Video has become a powerful and effective tool at Banchte Shekha - sometimes in surprising ways. In one case of desertion, the mere rumor that Banchte Shekha planned to make a tape about the experience of the woman concerned motivated her husband and his family to negotiate a settlement. In many instances, the possibility of exposure or embarrassment on videotape is enough to effect change.

A second video workshop, offered several months after the initial training, dealt with more advanced production skills. Subsequent C4C follow-up visits showed that the technical quality of video productions had improved; furthermore, team members' ability to conceptualize issues and use video to communicate them had grown. The village women involved in the project, in particular, were more confident and outspoken. C4C's role in the Banchte Shekha project evolved from that of teacher and leader to the more responsive position of advisor and supporter.

Banchte Shekha has carried out exchange activities with C4C's other Bangladesh partner organization, Proshika. [Read more about Proshika and its video activities.] Members of the two organizations' video teams have screened their tapes for one another, shared planning strategies and playback approaches, and even carried out a joint production.

The Banchte Shekha participatory video project was funded by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation.