Neria Grassroots Distribution Project: Final project report

Executive summary

Was the Neria Grassroots Distribution Project, which objectives were to dub the feature film Neria into Shona and Ndebele; to develop support materials including a support video focusing on the key learning points contained in the film and a support manual to facilitate the learning process with target groups as well as a grassroots distribution campaign to reach disadvantaged groups across Zimbabwe, a successful initiative? Was awareness related to women's inheritance issues amongst audiences raised, was information concerning the Inheritance Laws transmitted to distributors? Which project phases were implemented resulting in which achievements? Which limitations were experienced and judging from these answers, what project impact can be foreseen? These are some of the questions this final project report about the Neria Grassroots Distribution Project seeks to answer.

Having used a participatory approach in data-gathering devices that led to the development of the Neria support materials, the project has faced a number of external as well as internal constraints. However, these constraints are definitely outnumbered by its achievements and its likely project impact that can be estimated for the next twelve moths. Main achievements of the project are – amongst others - the successful assessment of a variety of organisations to carry out the task of a distributor throughout Zimbabwe, the country-wide formative research period with screenings and focus group discussions, the successful pre-testing of the designed materials and finally the training of trainers in the effective use of the support materials which comprise of a Neria feature film, a Neria support video and a Neria support manual in Shona, English and Ndebele with picture cards, support groups address lists and legal educational pamphlets.

As interactive tools, the designed materials will encourage awareness among audiences on the issue of women's rights and move communities to respond and build on existing initiatives for attitude and behaviour change.

Both, the support video and the support manual, which were developed to facilitate a deeper knowledge about issues contained in the feature film Neria, will benefit anyone who is interested in discussing issues of inheritance. It will be particularly helpful to people offering assistance with inheritance-related problems in grassroots communities.

Moreover, the Neria support materials have joined a multi-media campaign called the ‘Wills and Inheritance Laws Project' run by the Zimbabwean Ministry of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs in order to thoroughly spread information on the changes of the Inheritance Laws after 1997. The Neria support materials will (though in a repackaged form) be used as educational tools all over Zimbabwe, which will widen the distribution range enormously.