African Voices for Conservation
Why it is important.
"Bringing diverse experiences and points of view to problems raises the odds of success. Without diverse views we pay an opportunity cost, a cost in conservation not tried, in constraints not understood, in experiments not invented."
E.O. Wilson
PowerPoint; History, Present, and Future
McGowan gave a PowerPoint presentation about the wildlife filmmaking course for EarthTeam/Freeland in April, 2025. Freeland protects people and wildlife from trafficking, and helps build resilient communities and ecosystems. The presentation offers a history of how the course began and where we want to go with it. Freeland is acting as the project's fiscal sponsor.
Rwanda/US Ranger Exchange Documentary
Alcene Musigwa is a Trail Manager from Nyungwe National Park in Rwanda. He spent three months in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to learn and exchange ideas on trail maintenance. The ranger exchange program is between the National Park Service and African Parks in Rwanda. The interview is a short sample of a longer documentary on the ranger exchange produced by the Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers
Rwanda/US Ranger Exchange Documentary
The Rwandan Wildlife Filmmakers have embarked on a one-hour documentary about the historic ranger exchange between the US National Park Service and African Parks. They spent a week in August , 2024, in Nyungwe with trail supervisor, Alcene Musigwa, before he departed for the Great Smoky Mountains NP in the US.
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Nyungwe National Park
Tea fields outside of Nyungwe National Park.
About Us
Partnership
Partnership
Partnership
David McGowan, Ravenswood Media, and Greg Bakunzi, Red Rocks Initiative, have teamed up to provide wildlife filmmaking skills to the next generation of Rwandan conservationists.
The Class
Partnership
Partnership
8 highly motivated and sharp Rwandans showed up to learn basic filmmaking skills. They were able to produce their first film, One Health Rwanda, by the end of the class. They are the future of conservation.
Our mission
Partnership
Our mission
Our goal is to provide a basic filmmaking course for rangers, trackers, and guides. They are the ones who are closest to wildlife and understand the challenges for its future. Their voices need to be heard to produce effective solutions for wildlife worldwide.
Podcast
conversations on the future of learning
Silver Lining for Learning (SLL) is an ongoing conversation on the future of learning with educators, education leaders, innovators, and learners from across the globe. Hosted by Chris Dede, Curt Bonk, Punya Mishra & Yong Zhao.
2023 Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking Class
News!
AAIFF-Africa, Kigali Film Fest
The Kigali Film Festival runs September 13-15, 2024. McGowan was invited to act as a submissions judge. He saw six incredible documentaries on a variety of topics; the giant land snails of São Tomé, the struggles the of post-genocide generation of Rwanda, the grim legacy of the "disappeared" in South Africa, the risks of tourism based economy in Senegal, the importance of language in cultural identity, and the challenges of overcoming a disability in Siera Leone. McGowan participated in a live stream with the festival contributors:
McGowan Returns to Red Rocks.
McGowan returned to Red Rocks for the month of September, 2023. Excellent group of new students. We explored the topic of traditional healers and medicinal plants. This year, the film is entirely narrated in Kinyarwanda with English subtitles.
Last year's students build on their skills with a documentary about Planet Birdsong.
Planet Birdsong is a British NGO that provides bird sound recording devices and reaches Rwandan citizen scientists how to contribute to the global database of bird calls. We were fortunate to collaborate with them on a film.
Consider a Donation.
Consider donating your previous camera, lenses, tripod, etc to the Rwanda wildlife filmmaking class. Rather than taking up space in your closet, let your used equipment be of use capturing the incredible biodiversity of East Africa!
Contact mcgowan@ravenswoodmedia.com
2022 Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking Class
Films
Verediyana: Traditional Rwandan Healer
From Appalachia to Indonesia, traditional healers play an essential role in the physical, mental, and spiritual health of a community. Verediyana is a traditional healer in Rwanda. She collects herbs in the forest to treat local people who suffer maladies beyond the reach of Western medicine. The Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking team chose to produce a film about Verediyana because they believe plants are wildlife, too.
Rwandan Women Success Stories Community Based Tourism
The Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers team produced a film on how community based tourism assists women in the villages adjacent to national parks. Red Rocks Initiative is based outside of the Volcanoes National Park and provides local women with a tourist based market for their handicrafts. Roger Irakoze adds to his stellar portfolio by directing and editing the film. He was assisted by fellow Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers; Serge Musasa, Fred Mutayoba, and Protais Mutabazi.
Clay and the Community
Clay is an essential commodity in Rwandan communities. Rwandan Wildlife Filmmaking alum, Roger Irakoze, has crafted a beautiful portrait of potter, Damaris Mukasirive. She explains the importance of clay to her community in the village of Nkotsi and how she came to be a potter.
COP 28
Activist Leonard IYAMUREMYE asks participants about their views on climate change action at COP-28 in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Leonard learned filmmaking at the Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking course at Red Rocks Initiative in Musanze, Rwanda.bird call recording. The data gathered will contribute to the science of ornithology and conservation in Rwanda.
Birdsong in Rwanda
Rwanda Wildlife Filmmakers (www.rwandawildlifefilmmaking.com) have partnered with Planet Birdsong (www.planetbirdsong.org) to produce a film about training Rwandan birders on bird call recording. The data gathered will contribute to the science of ornithology and conservation in Rwanda.
IndieGoGo Crowdfunding
The campaign is still alive and the students are working on their next film. Go to IndieGoGo and donate.
Camosag
The Rwanda Wildlife Filmmaking class has led to the first paying gig for one of the students. Roger Irakoze produced a short industrial film for Camosag Quarry. It's not a wildlife film but this demonstrates that the filmmaking skills learned at Red Rocks can be used to generate income for the wildlife filmmaker. The class is an asset for Rwandan conservation and the economy.
The class produced their first film.
They used their new skills to produce a film that not only highlights Rwanda's stunning wildlife but also addresses the critical issue of planetary health.
Come for the gorillas but stay for the birds!
Rwandan birder, Joseph Lioneau, describes the incredible birding opportunities in Rwanda.
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Contact Us
We want new voices on wildlife conservation!
Let us know if the filmmaking course can fulfill your institution's goals.
Red Rocks Initiative
NR 14 Nyakinama road, Rwanda
Open today | 09:00 am – 05:00 pm |
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