Carla Bellomarino
Digital Storytelling
Academy
In September 2019, the world lost Carla Bellomarino, our beautiful friend & Followings volunteer, to sudden cardiac arrest. A fiercely passionate creator, writer and producer, Carla brought a warmth and sense of calm to any home, office or film set she walked into.
Carla's commitment to global equality saw her volunteer with Followings Foundation in 2018 to help build the Busubi Empowered Communities (BEC) Learning Centre in rural Uganda. After raising more than $6,500 herself, and inspiring her friends and family to raise even more, Carla travelled to Uganda to live and work at the Centre. Carla led workshops on Human Rights, built relationships within the community and sparked joy and laughter speaking both English and Luganda.
Without Carla, the BEC Learning Centre wouldn’t be what it is today.
In 2021, in honour of this extraordinary human, the Carla Bellomarino Digital Storytelling Academy will open at the BEC Learning Centre.
LOCAL LEADER, DERRICK, DISCUSSES THE STORYTELLING ACADEMY!
The Digital Storytelling Academy will serve as an entry pathway to a film, television or digital media career—a place to learn how to create powerful video and audio content for a global audience.
The Academy embodies Carla's passion for story-telling, writing, comedy. More than anything, Carla valued empowerment through information and with your help we can make that a reality for Ugandan students.
Original and honest voices like Carla's are being heard louder than ever across the globe. This is largely due to the ease of access to technology and the rise of video sharing platforms. With your support, the Busubi community will be invited to this global stage, ensuring their voices are heard. The exposure of their creative works will bring inspiration, understanding and empowerment to their community. Their voices will not be left behind in the era of digital literacy.
Become an Academy Sponsor
Become a Course Sponsor
Become a Student Sponsor
The first course to run at the Academy in 2021 will be The University of Houston's “Powerful Tools for Teaching and Learning: Digital Storytelling”. This course will be facilitated by a local Ugandan leader over 12 weeks and introduces digital storytelling and exploring ways to use digital stories to enhance students’ learning experiences.
The course is designed to provide a solid foundation for all components of digital storytelling. Through online tutorials and practical assessment tasks, the course provides hands-on opportunities for learners to create and share their own digital stories.
Carla Bellomarino was one in a million, could tell a story on-screen (and off!) like no other, and had a fierce passion for equality. Through this Academy, students from rural Uganda will be given the power to tell their stories to the world for the first time. Thank you for keeping Carla's legacy alive.
Your Opportunity
Help us provide the resources needed: laptops powerful enough for video editing, tablets and phones with cameras for recording, editing and posting content, microphones, instructor wages and course costs.
Directly sponsoring the Carla Bellomarino Digital Storytelling Academy is an opportunity to:
EMPOWER students with the opportunity to learn, grow and develop through digital storytelling.
CONNECT your corporate or personal brand to the education and development of passionate students.
DEMONSTRATE your commitment to fostering emerging talent in storytelling through video, podcast and in written word.
CONTRIBUTE to equitable access to education and give a global voice to Ugandan students.
GIVE a voice to those without via a multitude of digital platforms.
2021
Academy Sponsor
A tax-deductible donation of $2500:
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Your corporate logo or name included on our website, in our yearly Academy reports and regularly acknowledged on our social media channels at each milestone of the program (minimum 10 mentions)
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Contribution to fund the purchase of equipment
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Contribution to wages for teaching staff who are delivering each course
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Access to course reports reflecting on the achievements of the program
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Quarterly access to content produced by the students
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Quarterly video and audio updates from students and teachers
2021
Course Sponsor
A tax-deductible donation of $500:
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Your corporate logo or name included in our yearly Academy reports and regularly featured on our social media channels (minimum 3 mentions)
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Contribution to the costs associated with each course, including equipment replacement and maintenance
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Contributes to wages for teaching staff who are delivering the course
Access to course reports reflecting on the achievements of the program -
Quarterly access to content produced by the students
Honouring the memory of passionate and masterful storyteller Carla Bellomarino, our Digital Storytelling Academy will inspire and empower future storytelling talent in Uganda.
If you'd like to donate any amount at all, click the link below to be part of the continuation of Carla's Story.
toSPONSOR
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