Disability and Development: The evolution of a film-based learning resource

Disability and Development is a film-centred educational learning resource linked to the post-primary school curriculum in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The project concept came about through discussions involving Development Media Workshop, a not-for-profit organisation focused on social development and environment issues based in Enniskillen, and five members of Dóchas (The Irish Association of Non-Governmental Development Organisations). These organisations were Livability (the Disability and International Development Working Group), Children in Crossfire, War on Want (Northern Ireland), Christian Blind Mission, and Disability Aid Abroad. All of these organisations shared the view that disability issues were largely neglected in development education on the island of Ireland and agreed to become partners in a new initiative to address this gap in practice.

The partners decided to work together to produce a collective learning resource, rather than develop their own individual organisational resources. They chose to follow the format and structure set by a curriculum-linked, film-centred learning resource called Experiences of Childhood (2007). To produce the resource, the consortia successfully secured three years’ funding support from the Department for International Development (DfID)’s Development Education Mini Grants Scheme for Northern Ireland starting in April 2010. The partners established three aims for the project: first, to develop the capacity of post-primary Key Stage 3 and 4 teachers in Northern Ireland to engage their students in discussion on disability and development issues; second, to create opportunities and provide support for Key Stage 3 and 4 pupils in Northern Ireland to explore disability and development issues, and make informed responses; and third, to build the capacity of the partner organisations to deliver effective development awareness activities by working as a team and enabling partners with development awareness experience to share good practice with less experienced partners. This article describes the evolution of the project from concept to implementation, and concludes with lessons learned that might be useful for others working in similar fields.