Study trip of L2 students in Communication, to Tsiroanomandidy

Students and supervisors, with the children of the center

The students in L2, from the Higher School of Information and Communication (SAMIS-ESIC), Saint Michel Amparibe spent eight days on a study trip in Tsiroanomandidy, from August 5th to 14th, 2024. SAMIS-ESIC is the university where Sister Nordine Faria studies.

Students were in groups of four. Each group went to four different places. Our group weny to Tsiroanomandidy. It was called "e-VATsi", (Esic-Vondrona A Tsiroanomandidy).

This is a city that is located in the central-western part of Madagascar, 260 km from Antananarivo. Tsiroanomandidy is the capital of the Bongolava region.

We left Antananarivo on August 5th at 7a.m. We arrived in Tsiroanomandidy around 1pm. The aim of this educational journey was to allow students to conduct in-depth research on the forms of communication specific to each region visited.

In Tsiroanomandidy, our mission was to explore and analyse the crucial role that young people play in the economic development of the region. This city is a hotbed of economic activity and social dynamics, where young people hold a special place. The theme guided our research-work and we were divided into three sub-groups: the radio group, the print media group, and the documentary group.

The Radio Group: A Voice for the Youth of Tsiroanomandidy

The radio group set itself the task of producing a radio programme focusing on the theme of the study tour. To do this, the young students first collected information on the ground by interviewing young people, local businesses and economic development experts. After the collection, they proceeded to edit the audio segments, creating a program ready to be broadcast. This program will then be handed over to a local radio station which will be in charge of broadcasting it, thus allowing the voices of the youth of Tsiroanomandidy to be heard by a wider audience.

The Written Press Group: reporting the essentials

The members of the print media group, of which I am an integral member, have set about writing a newspaper report on the observations and analyses made in the area. Each of the members had chosen a specific topic to deal with,in line with our central theme. They carried out field visits to collect data and testimonies before moving on to writing their articles. The result will be a content-rich journal, offering a comprehensive overview of the importance of young people in Tsiroanomandidy’s development.

The Documentary Group: Capturing Reality Through the Lens

The documentary group, for its part, embarked on the production of a documentary film. After determining the angle of approach to the film, they began creating video footage, highlighting the initiatives of young people in a variety of economic sectors. The highlights were then carefully selected to match the theme, before moving on to the final edit.

This study trip to Tsiroanomandidy is not only a hands-on learning opportunity, but also an enriching experience. Through the work of each sub-group, this project illustrates the importance of youth in the economic and social development of an area.