Above: Mesh short video introduction (1 min 43 secs)
Mesh Community Engagement Network is a collaborative open-access web space and networking project for people involved in community engagement with global health research. It provides an online meeting place where community engagement practitioners, researchers, health workers and others can network, share resources and discuss good practice.
To find out how to use the site please watch the webinar below (24 mins) which covers:
- What Mesh is and why it exits
- How it might be useful to those carrying out global health research
- A tour of the website
- Details about free membership
This video is a recording of a webinar given to the H3Africa Study Co-ordinators and Community Engagement Working Group in May 2019.
Please get in touch with Helen Latchem, Mesh Manager: mesh@tghn.org
The projects featured in the Mesh short video introduction are:
Art in Global Health set up six artist residencies in Wellcome Trust-funded research centres as a way of teasing out some of the more personal, philosophical, cultural and political dimensions of health research. The work was born out of Wellcome Collection's desire to engage the curious public globally with the health research - in Kenya, Malawi, South Africa, Thailand, Vietnam and the UK. Thanks go to Barry J Gibb for footage.
A resource with more information on this project is available on Mesh.
This project in Uganda, Rwanda and Burundi uses the simple, robust and low-cost Café Scientifique model to offer a space in which pupils and researchers can develop the skills to discuss important and relevant topics. It brings their personal experiences and expertise to a forum in which they can engage together in a conversation about the issues in science that affect their daily lives.
EH!WOZA engages young people in Khayelitsha, South Africa with biomedical research, through workshops and films created by the young people themselves. Under the guidance of digital artist, Ed Young, groups of 15-17 year-olds filmed and edited documentaries exploring local attitudes towards TB. Thanks go to Ed Young, ‘The M.A.C’ (Akhona Dela, Chumisa Yaphi, Mthikazi Gcezengana), ‘Khalture’ (Athenkosi Bhusa, Siphelele Skeyi, Xola Dani) and ‘Zondentle’ (Ondela Kobese, Lucy Sothuko, Zintle Mekile) for the footage.
Based on a true story, and filmed on location in Harare, Zimbabwe by Tom Gibb and Joe Njagu, Chiedza’s Song explores the complex issues of isolation and stigmatisation faced by children and adolescents living with HIV. Participatory film workshops also allowed caregivers and healthcare workers to express their views and explore the topic.
A case study of this project is available on Mesh.
Health in the Backyard is an interactive media project using digital story telling methods to explore the attitudes and perceptions of risk of communities involved in animal husbandry in rural Vietnam. Working with Fact and Fiction Films (http://factandfictionfilms.com/) community members were supported to create and narrate short photo stories which related to zoonotic disease research.
A case study of this project is available on Mesh.
Indefensible Space is a documentary that highlights the problems and strategies related to gender-based violence faced by women in slums because of lack of secure and dignified access to toilets. Filmed by local residents in Dharavi, India and directed by filmmaker Manish Sharma, the project formed part of a large arts festival called ‘Dharavi Biennale’.
A case study of this project is available on Mesh.
Inside Story is a feature-length drama about HIV that has become the most widely broadcast film ever in Africa, reaching more than 400 million people across the continent. The film combines fiction and animated non-fiction storytelling to follow the story of a young Kenyan man as he moves to South Africa to pursue his dream of playing professional football.