I am called Murungi Sheilla, a first year Bachelor of Information Technology student at Makerere University. I started participating in SchoolNet Uganda activities during my secondary school days at Wanyange Girls School. One of my friends at school, Aminah Namwabira had attended the Inspiring Science Education for Girls with ICT camp organized by SchoolNet Uganda at Gayaza High School where they were trained how to use ICT for their education. When she came back to school she talked to me about it and I got interested. I was also a member of the computer club at school but only used to use computers for playing games and sending email. At school, I was offering HEG/A as my combination but I still knew I would get skills on how I can also use the knowledge which Aminah was sharing with us to also improve my education. So I got to learn how to use Internet to research for educational resources which helped me understand my school notes better.

At school, together with Aminah, our Director of Studies Mr. Henry Naabye and Mrs Sarah Awebwa, we started a new project called Education for Rural schools where we created Educational contents which we were to share with the neighbouring rural schools so that they could also get access to good notes. We created both video and audio lessons in various subjects like Geography, Biology, Physics etc. and we shared them with the rural schools. During the course of this project, we kept on getting assistance from SchoolNet Uganda.

In January this year 2009, through Mr. Kakinda Daniel, I was invited to attend a workshop for a new project which was being introduced in Uganda by SchoolNet Uganda called Adobe Youth Voices (AYV) which equips young people with technology and skills to create media for social change. At the workshop, we were introduced to the project and also trained in media making where we were trained in photo shooting and editing, video shooting and editing, story boarding etc.

After the workshop, I had to work with the SchoolNet Uganda Inspiring Science Education for Girls using ICT site to develop a media piece for social change. At our site, we developed a documentary on the gender disparity in science where we wanted to find out the hidden causes of the low participation, poor performance and low retention of girls in science as compared to the boys. In the course of working on this documentary, I developed a number of skills and experience in video shooting and editing, photo shooting and editing, interviewing people, team work, communication and interpersonal skills, negotiation and I also met a number of big people who inspired me a lot.

Through the SchoolNet Uganda AYV mailing list, an opportunity was sent out to all the sites which were participating in the AYV project where they could apply to attend the 1st ever AYV summit which was to be held in Palo Alto, California (29th July – 2nd August) 2009. The summit participants were to get further training in media making and to meet other AYV members from other countries. The AYV project is implemented in over 30 countries

Our site applied for this opportunity and through a breath taking process our site was chosen to attend the summit. I was very excited to be part of this because it was going to be my 1st time to travel and more over to USA (all expenses paid). I went through the entire process of getting the passport, visa and air tickets and also had to do some pre-summit activities. We had an online forum where we collaborated with the people we were going to be with at the summit. We also had to create a 1 minute video on an issue we wanted to change in our community where I created a one minute video on  deforestation. These activities helped me to improve my skills for using the Internet, communication and interpersonal skills and also media making skills.

The flight day came and I was really excited it being my first time flying and my parents were really proud of me and escorted me to the airport. Together with my team we boarded the plane and flew to USA. However a long the way I saw very many things that excited me e.g. the bigger airports in the other countries, technology etc.

In California we met a number of media making professionals e.g. David Nakabayashi, the Visual Arts Director of Lucas films who has worked on a number of great films including Harry Potter, Transformations, Iron man etc. He shared with us his experience in media making and inspired us to continue with media making. We were also trained in new media skills e.g. I managed to learn some new skills in Adobe Photoshop like photo editing and I learnt also how to record music and how to shoot a music video. My group actually created a music video on Identity.

We were staying at Stanford University so I got a chance of seeing what a University in US looks like. We also visited Dreamworks PDA, a movie making company where we watched their latest animated movies “Monsters Vs Aliens” and “Madagascar 2” in 3D glasses so we were watching the movie in 3D. This was an exciting and interesting new experience which I will actually never forget.

We also had the closing ceremony called AYV Live which was at the Yerba Berna Centre of Arts, one of the best museums in California. Here our documentary was among the six documentaries which were showcased at this event which really excited me and also my other teammate Ronald Kasendwa made a speech at the event. As if that was not enough, I got a life time opportunity of meeting and interacting with the Black Eyed Peas (International Musical Artists) and also took photographs with them. I also managed to watch a live performance of the Black Eyed Peas.

After this experience, I finally returned home to Uganda. From the summit, I learnt new media making skills, shared my experience with the other AYV youth and educators, made a lot international friends who I am still in touch with and I keep learning from them, and also got inspired to continue with media making.

Currently, I am working with Emuka Studios where I do photo shooting and editing in order to make myself some extra pocket money (trying to apply the skills I learnt) and I attribute all this to SchoolNet Uganda (SNU) for having involved in me their activities. I also chose to do Bachelor of Information Technology because these activities have enabled me to see a bright future in IT.

I want to conclude my testimony by thanking SNU for giving me an opportunity to be part of their family because right now they are helping me make better decisions for my future. And to SNU, I want to thank you for all you have done for me; words alone are not enough express my gratitude and I am more than willing to come and share my testimony, skills and experience with all the other youth in case I am need to.