Makutano Junction
The Brief:
Consultation with teachers, students and development education professionals to test out and develop ideas for using a Kenyan TV soap opera, Makutano Junction, in schools in the UK as a global education tool.
Following a positive response to this consultation Just Ideas worked with Mediae, who produce Makutano Junction in Kenya, on a successful funding proposal to the Department for International Development (DFID) for a development education project using Makutano Junction as a starting point to explore development issues and perceptions of Africa. This bid was successful and Just Ideas were contracted to deliver the project in partnership with Mediae over the three year project term.
Engaging Just Ideas:
Just Ideas were engaged by Mediae, who produce Makutano Junction in Kenya, to research and deliver the project in partnership with Mediae. This involves extensive evaluation throughout the pilot, including before and after audits of attitudes of students; on-line surveys and focus groups;writing web based resources to enable teachers in secondary schools to use Makutano Junction as a global education tool within many subject areas of the national curriculum; and a pilot phase testing the methodology and resources in the South West of England, before rolling it out nationally.
The Outcome:
Currently in Year 2 of the Makutano Junctino project. The pilot phase demonstrated that Makutano Junction and the resources Just Ideas and Mediae developed is an engaging, enjoyable and effective way of secondary students learning about development issues such as HIV AIDS through a medium they are familiar with, and of challenging common perceptions and stereotypes held of Kenya and Africa.
“I thought the men in Kenya would wear dresses, but they don’t, they wear trousers. Some wear jeans, like us”
“ We learned that HIV is really dangerous, and to protect yourself, never have unprotected sex”.
Feedback from Year 8 students, Shepton Mallet who had spent a day working with Makutano Junction.
