The SSMLab was a residency program focused on networking and collaboration amongst professionals and activists in the East African and South East Asian media sector.
Idea exchange for future continued collaboration included feminist network activation, the use of virtual reality for policy advocacy, cross regional trainings around data journalism, art education and citizen laboratory projects, community radio and much more.
The program was initiated through regional step up events in Bandung (pic) and Addis Ababa, including all fellows, representatives of host organisations and invited experts.
The cohort worked on projects ranging from the documentation of feminist activism in Uganda to the creation of a collaborative database system prototype on extractive mining, oil and gas in Kenya and Cambodia, a photo exhibit exploring urban transformation and displacement in Addis Ababa to an augmented reality app for a graphic novel on how to unlock creative potential.
SSMLab projects included an IoT_prototype collecting environmental data to a short film on the lif in the Nakivale refugee camp, workshops and trainings on youth setorytelling, AR and 360VR, social media strategy and open source and data journalism.
The final network event in Ethiopia. The SSMLab focused on peer-learning and open and free media technologies to approach political and social challenges in creative and experimental ways through digital means.
Based on icebauhaus’ experiences of working in cross-regional networks, we published the C.A.M.P. booklet and folio cards within the SSMLab project.
The SSMLab program was a collaboration between icebauhaus (Germany), common room (Indonesia) and iceaddis (Ethiopia). We look foward to continue also with partners in other regions.