LearnAsOne

Nerys Evans started volunteering with LearnAsOne as a film producer on our May ‘09 trip. She is currently editing all the video she shot thanks to a grant from Vodafone World of Difference. This is her journey so far.

Nerys doing a piece to camera on her first full day in Zambia.

It all started in November 2008.

For some time I had felt an urge to put my experience into use: I had been working as a factual video Director for three years, worked in broadcast for ten, but still felt something was missing.

I wanted to produce a video that could make a difference, focusing on a forgotten or unseen world.

I went home, switched on my computer, and entered “Video, producer, volunteer, charity”. Up popped LearnAsOne.

I chose the charity for five reasons:

• Africa
• Children
• Education
• Innovation
• Transparency

It is a charity that brings a 21st Century feasibility to the ’sponsor a child / project’ initiative by using new media technology.

It is a non-corporate charity.

It is a charity that will allow the donor to see exactly how their money is being used through stories, photographs and videos produced by both professional self-funded volunteers and aid workers working within a sister in-community charitable organization.

It is a charity that believes in sustainability, self preservation and education that tailors to the needs of its people. It is not a charity that is driven by what ‘we’ think is for the better.

The long term hope for LearnAsOne is to assist local NGOs who work in countries across Africa by providing donations from people across the world. In turn, will gain an understanding of how their money is being invested through transparent, new media communication.

Nerves, Bikes and 250 miles

A brief meeting with young founder Steve Heyes in London confirmed it was a project worth pursuing. LearnAsOne were heading to Zambia in May 2009 and I had to raise £700 to make the trip.

It was the first time for me to fund-raise. I was a little apprehensive.

A month later I met with Producer Sue Jeffries of “Cyfle”, a Welsh Training Company for the Creative Media Industries in Wales. Sue simply gave me the rocket fuel I needed to proceed:

“Right” she said, “you’re going to Zambia. That’s that. So, now, how are you going to raise the money?”.

A little bike ride through Wales.

I decided to challenge myself to the Lon Las Wales cycle. It is a route that will take cyclists from the very peak of Anglesey to the lowest point of Chepstow. It covers 250 miles over three mountain ranges. I decided to do the route in five days. I was kindly given a bike by Wheelies Cycles of Swansea

I was joined by six cyclists: Andrew Davies, Cennydd Richards, Harriet Buckland, Juliet Milne, Nick Tallis, Phil Ridland, and Steve Heyes.

We stayed at minimal cost accommodation and Nick Tallis provided transport. Each rider would take it in turn to drive the kit to the next stop off.

I did not drive and did the entire 250 miles.

Together we raised a massive £1,100; £400 above the target. All thanks to the willingness of the cyclists and the generosity of sponsors.

So, especially for the cyclists, here is a very cheesy slide show and accompanying sound track of our trip:

Getting the Right Kit

With the money raised, I was on my way to Zambia, but I was missing video equipment that was potentially needed.

I had invested in a HDV Sony Z1 video camera, a camera used by most broadcasters, but I needed a tripod and a camera light. I also needed production support to determine whether or not I was able to take this equipment into the country.

I turned to my employer, independent television company Tinopolis. The Producers had already shown an interest in what I was doing: I was interviewed live in the studio of S4C flagship series Wedi 3 to talk about the Lon Las ride.

I approached Development Producer Huw Marshall and he was very supportive of the cause. I offered the company a bilingual video diary of my journey in exchange of a tripod and camera light. The exchange was agreed.

I now found myself as a self-shoot director for LearnAsOne who also had to appear in front of the camera for the Tinopolis production.

Not only was I grateful for Tinopolis’ support but also the opportunity for LearnAsOne to appear on TV for much needed publicity.

Read part two of Nerys’ story to see what she got up to in Zambia.