Christine Hausmann Knihy

The study explores the empowering effects of film and video on participants in various nonformal adult education programs in Zimbabwe. It focuses on a project in legal education where audio-visual materials for the feature film Neria were developed and distributed at the grassroots level. These materials were also utilized in a nationwide multimedia educational campaign. By employing qualitative data gathering methods, the study effectively measures changes in participants’ attitudes. It analyzes the findings in relation to empowerment and offers recommendations for improvements in the legal system and the application of video in development cooperation. The research highlights how the film and its accompanying materials facilitated attitude shifts and new insights among participants, emphasizing the potential for positive changes in legal education and the role of video in fostering development.

The important role Third World's women play in actively influencing the development of their respective countries can no longer be doubted. Still, the status quo of especially rural women poses constraints to this task. Historical factors as well as problems concerning the reality of development practice in Zimbabwe are therefore thoroughly analysed. Programmes for the improvement of women's status in the nonformal field run by 20 nongovernmental organisations are observed to identify a successful combination of empowering components. The analysis clearly shows that women's nonformal education for empowerment is a complex task which can only succeed if the various interacting factors are addressed with respect to women's actual needs.