"Literacy Is Light" (Arabic)

This 60-second PSA created by Al-Reef Young Lady Society (RYLS), begins with the image of a woman walking towards a window and reaching for the light. She is next pictured walking through a desert landscape; Her ghostly image appears and disappears right before and after she enters and exits the frame. She is then pictured praying with her hands turned to the sky and the light of the sun behind her face. The final scene depicts the woman walking down a road, appearing and disappearing right before she enters and exits the frame. She comes across a book in the middle of the road and picks it up. As she opens the book, she smiles and the slogan, Literacy Is Light appears onscreen. Text appears onscreen: Fatat Al Reef society was the first society to fight against illiteracy by opening classes in Jid-hafs in 1972. The PSA is meant to encourage literacy as a virtuous activity, consistent with the religious values of the women that the PSA targets.
Directors: Khadija Alasafarah & Sabah Ahmed Ali / Emails: hguwhtvm661@hotmail.com / fifteenager._.gur1@hotmail.com
Music: Nabeel Bahy

This PSA is available upon request, in English & Arabic to broadcasters and organizations who wish to distribute it rights-free.

Background:

From April 12 May 3, 2009, Alison Fast & Chandler Griffin of Barefoot Workshops led a three-week program in Manama, teaching Bahraini organizations how to write, shoot, produce, and edit Public Service Announcements (PSAs) to raise awareness about important social issues. Nine PSAs were produced on such topics as: womens access to IT, women participation in the 2010 national elections, domestic abuse, illiteracy, and youth empowerment.

The aim of the workshop was to foster greater civic participation, activism and debate by teaching civil society organizations how to create messages that can improve their societies from within. This program was funded by the United States Government Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI).

Please contact: info@barefootworkshops.org for more information.

Category:

Nonprofits & Activism

Tags:

• Barefoot Workshops
• MEPI
• Arabic
• Public Service Announcement
• PSA
• Manama
• Bahrain
• Middle East
• civil society
• message
• media advocacy
• public campaign
• women
• literacy
• illiteracy
• reading
• writing
• education
• pilgrim
• literacy is light
• prayer
• pray
• journey
• religion
• allah
• islam
• virtue
• virtuous
• Koran
• Al-Reef
• Al Reef
• Young Lady
• Society
• Young Ladies
• Khadija
• Alasafarah
• Sabah
• Ahmed
• Ali
• Jid-hafs