Rural Youth Cinema - Guide on Ethnographic Documentary-Making in Youth Work

Aims of the tool

Equip young people and organizations in rural areas with the skills and knowledge to create ethnographic documentaries, enabling them to document and share their unique experiences and perspectives;

Promote audio-visual, including ethnographic documentary techniques as a
methodology in youth work;

Use ethnographic documentaries as a tool to drive social change by raising
awareness of critical issues related to ecology and sustainability, and
advocating for the voices of rural youth at a broader European level

Description of the tool

The resource is a collaborative effort of the partnership for the Erasmus K2 project “Rural Youth Cinema” involving organizations from rural Romania - “Curba de
Cultură” and rural Ireland – “Limerick Youth Service” as well as the local theatre house in Belgium –
“Mals Vlees” which brings expertise in art and education. The “University College Leuven-Limburg (UCLL)” contributes its expertise in the educational elements of audio-visual ethnographic filmmaking. Additionally, the
“European Confederation of Youth Clubs (ECYC)” plays an important role in amplifying and advocating for the key findings at the European level, ensuring that the voices and stories captured through this project reach a wider
audience.

Focusing on ecology and sustainability themes, this guide aligns with urgent global priorities while reflecting rural youth work's unique challenges and strengths. It provides a step-by-step methodology for producing high-quality ethnographic documentaries, enabling young. people to share their experiences and perspectives on these topics.