Introduction

Training is one of the programs offered at Slum TV, with a mission to capture, document and tell authentic stories on the lives of informal dwellers through film and photography, we place the tool of self representation on the hands of the young people from the slums. Initially the Slum TV trainings were only for the 20 slum TV members.

In 2011 we did a pilot film training at an organization called Slum Sanaa and advertised asking different youth groups attend. The great demand to learn film meant we could go full board the following year taking in 12 students. With three trainers (Idah Opollo, Ephantus Kariuki, Elijah Mumo), we provided basic filmmaking skills to the first group of young people for about 3years.

We have since greatly improved enrolling approximately 30 students into this practical and intensive 12month training course divided into 6 months each. At the end of the year three best student films are screened together with the entire class project. We also get to print three best photos from the students.

We have an impressive database of alumni from our trainings currently working in mainstream media houses and cooperations. Our students have received accolades amongst them –

One alumnus won the 2016 Riverwood Best DOP Award, and another from 2014 class was nominated for then same award.

We have 2 student films that received awards at Slum Film Festival.

The following are some of our trainers

• Jackline Emali
  She is a practicing script/screen writer. Has worked on a number of short and feature films. Is the script-writing trainer

• David Kariuki
  He is an alumnus from the 2011 class, has worked on numerous films, documentaries. His film won an award at slum film festival and was recently nominated at riverwood awards for best DOP of the year. He is a cameraman with lightbox and the cinematography trainer

• Edward Ahenda
  He is an alumnus of the 2011 class, renowned location sound recordist having worked in numerous films, documentaries and television shows. Has won an award for best sound recordist and apart from being a trainer at Slum TV he also works at Ebru

• Simon Onyango
  Also a Slum TV alumnus from the time Slum TV was initiated. He is renowned film editor and very good cameraman. Has worked not only on slum TV productions, but also worked on numerous cooperate events, TV shows.

• Antony Wanyoike
  He is the owner of Trivet Photography, lead photographer at black magic studios. He has covered great events for Samantha bridal, photography awards amongst others. He was recently nominated among top 5 best Kenyan photographers.