The WITNESS Video Advocacy Institute (VAI), the first of its kind, is an innovative program that trains human rights defenders to successfully integrate video advocacy into their campaigns. In this highly participatory course participants learn how to:

• Plan the strategic use of video as a targeted tool;
• Make appropriate decisions on safety, security, and consent;
• Craft effective advocacy narratives – ‘storytelling for action’;
• Distribute their video to key audiences; and
• Use video as evidence or online video for advocacy;
• Plan and shoot on Mini-DV video cameras;
• Learn the basics of editing.

The training also includes focused sessions to apply the learning to planning for a video project that participants will implement upon completing the VAI.

The approach is intensive and practical, grounded in WITNESS’ 16 years of experience supporting human rights organizations in over 70 countries to use video in their campaigns. The focus is on experiential learning, which deepens the participant’s ability to apply the knowledge and skills to apply video advocacy in their social change work.

The VAI grew out of WITNESS’ resolve to meet the rising demand for training in the use of video for human rights and social justice advocacy. Over the last 16 years, WITNESS has worked to provide video equipment and training to human rights defenders across the globe. Our trainers have become experts in providing specialized instruction in video advocacy to the increasing number of NGOs and individual advocates who use digital media in their social change campaigns. These intensive trainings give activists the skills they need to bring unseen images, untold stories and seldom heard voices to the attention of the audiences who hold the power to create lasting change.