Butterfly Multi Media Centre & Recording Studio:

Since it opened in April 2012, this creative dynamic space holds two rooms full of media equipment and information which can benefit the community; including a recording room and a larger room stocked with a projector, radio and computers.

The recording room is full of the latest equipment for the community to record original music along with being able to practise mixing music as well. It is always truly inspiring to hear new sounds emerging from the recording room as it is often full with many musicians. We have also previously taught some local children to become DJ´s by using software on the computers which we would like to continue in the future.  

The computers in the bigger room have been set up as work stations where people can learn music, film and photography editing. We have basic equipment for people to use and worksheets for people to work from, although hands-on teaching from volunteers and people who are experienced are the best way to use what we have to offer. We have lots of tools for the community to use such as a video camera and a voice recorder which are perfect for anyone interested in making films or wanting to get into journalism. We offer Photoshop classes, and can set up courses in photography to show the community how to use a camera.  A recent volunteer Mike, from A Million Smiles project worked with some kids and is now encouraging them to use his project as a platform for their photography.

Lots of work has been done recently to try to set up Nkhata News, a local and tourist newspaper that should also provide an opportunity for budding journalists to practice their skills.  A new blog site to help people practice their writing skills.

There is also a projector positioned opposite a perfect wall to show weekly educational films and inspiring TED talks. Recently we had a volunteer from the UK who brought over a lot of travel documentaries including the box set from the famous English explorer Bruce Parry, and one about Mount Everest and we have local films provided by Purple Field Productions that were filmed locally.  Such sessions help keep the community on their toes and we always have a big turn-out for these classes as people are eager to learn about different places around the world. This projector comes in very handy and is also a great tool to use for homework clubs.

Volunteers for the media room could:

• Provide lessons on editing; music, photos and video, to the community here in Nkhata Bay.

• Set up homework clubs using the computers and projectors and teaching tools.

• Teach people how to become a DJ, using software on the computer.

• Show thought provoking films and podcasts and get discussion groups going. 

• Make cultural recordings with different members of the community as a way of recording local stories and traditions. There is a small camera, voice recorder and other means in which local community member’s stories and knowledge  could be recorded.

• Help us set up web-sites that will link our groups to the wider world, for

           commerce but also for information.

• Teach journalism skills, both for radio and written formats.

• Service and maintanence of equiptment.

• Assist in the first time production of Nkhata News, the first locally produced 

newspaper.

Eleven years on from its opening, the Information Centre is still going strong and we have recently gained a new set of desk-top computers from Suma Wholefoods which hopefully will be easier to maintain.  A new database of information on laptops provided by Chris and a fully loaded Raspberry Pi of educational videos ensures that the information remains relevant.  The centre manager provides lessons on how to use the computer for research purposes along with lessons in Microsoft Office, Excel and other basic software, which are held most days with children from the nearby schools.  We always really appreciate if any volunteers want to lend a hand with teaching in this area.

There is also a vast amount of Information in the Centre including a Library full of books  for our guests to read including: life-skills, health, language, history, home economics, travel, novels and Interfaith AIDs Association newsletters. There is also a notice board of free handouts for the community to take home with them on subjects including: agriculture, health and business. Without a doubt the Information & Internet Centre is clearly trying to educate the community to provide awareness for many to learn the skills which will benefit them well into the future.

 It further aims to develop its role within the wider community to become a useful networking centre for the area , developing a contacts database and looking to link up with like minded organisations.  For volunteers the centre can provide useful contacts and information for their time here and it is requested that any new contacts or work done while here is left here so that it can be useful for the future. .

People interested in helping out in the IT and Media centre could help with:

• Computer lessons for local schoolchildren and community groups. You would be expected to arrange and direct lessons, informing and engaging potential students to get involved by making posters, visiting local schools and word of mouth with the help of Soloman, our media centre manager. We have Word, Excel and PowerPoint lesson sheets and could always do with more lesson plans being recorded for future volunteers and /or step by step guides for locals to follow independently. 

• Gathering information for the centre, utilizing and promoting the use of our Raspberry Pi technology, sourcing more up to date magazines, books and journals.

• Sourcing, introducing and implementing new technologies that can be used in the IT centre to benefit the community. 

• Community visits to local groups and organisations can help advertise the facilities available in the centre and find out more about what information is relevant to people.

• Uploading books onto the library database, collecting and storing local contacts for networking.

• Researching and uploading contacts into our community database as a networking tool for our projects and the community in general.

• Maintanence and upkeep of electronic equiptment

• Training for staff that work in the IT and Media centre.