Information
Florence Allegrini,
Educational Programmes Coordinator
(514) 932-1112, ext. 30
Project Schedule
N.B. This timetable is subject to change.
■ October - November 2009: Preparation
Blue Metropolis Foundation will be in contact with the community centres / public libraries and the group leader interested in the programme to plan the sessions.
Each group will receive support materials and a project guide. The guide will offer suggestions, options and possible approaches to develop and manage the project. At all times, the group leader will make decisions regarding the selection and development of specific activities with his group.
■ November - December 2009: First meeting between
guest experts and the group
Each group will participate in a workshop with guest experts. During this initial meeting, the e-zine editor, reporter, broadcast journalist, photographer or cartoonist will draw on their own work and experience.
■ November 2009 - February 2010: Production of the
e-zine
In-group elaboration of the project; weekly work in groups (research, interviews, etc.); development of content for the e-zine;
On-going exchange and dialogue between participants and guest experts on an on-line social network (Facebook group pages).
Workshops conducted by videoconference.
Editing of written materials.
■ February - March 2010: Post production
E-zine goes online.
BMF will publicize the project and the launch of each e-zine in collaboration with partners and will put them all in touch with one another through links on the Blue Metropolis website.
■ April - May 2010: Assessment
Written evaluation by all participants.
• New: Creation of an electronic magazine in a second
language under the guidance of experts
• Public: extracurricular programme for young people aged 14
to 19 in New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec
• Language: English and French
• Length of the activity: 6 months in 2009-2010
• Free
Partners: Canadian Heritage, LEARN, Community Learning Centers, Canadian Parents for French
Description
Neighbours / Voisins is an innovative project targeting young people aged 14 to 19 in an extracurricular context. It is aiming to improve young Canadians' linguistic abilities in the second official language through the development, creation and production of an electronic magazine.
In the development, creation and production of the Neighbours / Voisins e-zines, young Canadians will open up their minds, their interest, their imaginations and their reporting skills to people who share their community and geographical location, but who do so in the other official language. Young anglophones will develop a e-zine in French focused on activities and events of their francophone neighbours, and young francophones will develop a e-zine in English focused on their anglophone neighbours' community activities and events. In the process, young Canadians will get to know how life is lived in the other language, they will become familiar with the issues and activities that matter most to their neighbours who speak the other language at home, and they will enhance their own linguistic and cultural experience and understanding.
We invite community centres and public libraries in New Brunswick, Ontario and Quebec to take part in this project. We ask them to provide the space and the computers for the participants.
We are looking for a person in this community centre or public library to lead the project in collaboration with Blue Metropolis Foundation (BMF). Ideally this person will have the following qualifications: fluent bilingualism, web expertise, appropriate experience working with young people, and an editorial / journalism background. The most important qualification is motivation!
BMF will bring into the community three guest experts with experience in the production of an e-zine (e.g. e-zine editor, reporter, broadcast journalist, photographer, cartoonist) to inspire and guide the youth in conceptualizing and planning their e-zine.
BMF will provide some of the equipment and material for the project. This will be decided depending of the needs for the e-zine (e.g. web magazine software, guide booklet, web hosting, cameras, digital recorders). The equipment will remain in the hands of the community centre / public library to facilitate later editions of the e-zine.
