Give Children a Chance
By Rushel Rangala
Being extra-ordinary, unique and different is not a bad thing. However this depends in what way this is in. Yes! Mr. Ogova ondego is one such man. Born in western Kenya, Ondego is a man who has a different perspective of life. Ondego grew up in Nairobi where he attended school and now works.
His educational background is a success straight from high school up to university where he obtained post-graduate qualifications in mass communications. He also has specialised training in film production, arts and cultural journalism and criticism, organisation and management of socio-cultural events, publishing and writing for children and youth.
Ondego believes that children have the right to be heard. This, he says, is what partly made him found the Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media platform for children and youth n eastern Africa in October 2005.
Lola Kenya Screen, that specialises in children, youth, media and culture, equips young people with practical skills in journalism, filmmaking, arts and culture appraisal and appreciation and programme presentation. It also draws children from different walks of life to come together and acquire life skills for responsible citizenship.
To Ondego, young people are not only the agents of change but also the citizens of today and tomorrow. In his words "children represent continuity and as such should be empowered.”
Ogova Ondego likes things to be orderly as expected and well planned. On the other hand he dislikes mediocrity and lack of initiative in people. “I work hard and demand the same from any one I work with,” he says during our rushed interview in the corridors of the Kenya National Theatre.
Ondego’s highest moments are when things are working out great as expected and his lowest moments are when things are not working out great despite the effort being put in.
Being a family man and working with the media is quite challenging since he spends most of time at work. However this has not hindered him from offering his full-time and unconditional love to his family. He began his work when his first child who is now 17 years old was a baby. He however is happy since his children support him and acknowledge his work. In fact, all the here children have always participated n Lola Kenya Screen. Both Fadhili and Karama, who served as screening officers during Lola Kenya Screen 2008 have both passed through the film production workshop offered every year, Mina has served on the Film Jury and Film Production Workshop.
Interestingly enough Ogova Ondego’s role model is Jesus Christ whose influence is felt by the whole world, including the Gregorian calendar that is based on His birth day. His other heroes include Mikhail Gorbachev, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Ondego’s greatest desire is to see the world transformed socially into a better place for every child, woman and man.
Ogova Ondego says the 3rd edition of Lola Kenya Screen has exceeded expectations. He nonetheless says the greatest challenege to Lola Kenya Screen is resource-mobilisation.
Noting hat funding he various programmes of Lola Kenya Screen has been quite a challenge and thanking Africalia of Belgium, the Jan Vrijman Fund of the Netherlands and Goethe-Institut n Kenya for their support without Lola Kenya Screen 2008 wold no have been, Ondego appeals to the various organs of the Kenya government dealing with the issues of children, youth, women, and culture to support Lola Kenya Screen in reaching out to every needy child and youth.
Since its inception in 2005, Ondego says Lola Kenya Screen has helped add 31 child filmmakers, 14 journalist, 13 film judges, 7 MCs and 15 children and youth television drama producers and 6 documentary films for children and youth producers to eastern Africa’s creative and cultural spectrum. The festival has also showcasd more than 1200 best possible films for children, youth and family from all over the world. All this, Ondego says, gives him great joy.
Ondego pays special tribute to the Lola Kenya Screen board chair Signe Zelich-Jensen and is “eternally grateful to the many other individuals and organizations spread around th world who suppot Lola Kenya Screen.”
To Ondego,the 3rd Lola Kenya Screen is a success, especially with regard to drawing various skill-development experts and facilitators from various countries to share their expertise with eastern Africans.
Ogova Ondego urges every one to give children a chance: to be heard on virtually everything in life"!
About he writer
Rushel Rangala, a member of the Lola Kenya Screen 2008 Festival Press, attends Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, Kisi, Kenya
Being extra-ordinary, unique and different is not a bad thing. However this depends in what way this is in. Yes! Mr. Ogova ondego is one such man. Born in western Kenya, Ondego is a man who has a different perspective of life. Ondego grew up in Nairobi where he attended school and now works.
His educational background is a success straight from high school up to university where he obtained post-graduate qualifications in mass communications. He also has specialised training in film production, arts and cultural journalism and criticism, organisation and management of socio-cultural events, publishing and writing for children and youth.
Ondego believes that children have the right to be heard. This, he says, is what partly made him found the Lola Kenya Screen audiovisual media platform for children and youth n eastern Africa in October 2005.
Lola Kenya Screen, that specialises in children, youth, media and culture, equips young people with practical skills in journalism, filmmaking, arts and culture appraisal and appreciation and programme presentation. It also draws children from different walks of life to come together and acquire life skills for responsible citizenship.
To Ondego, young people are not only the agents of change but also the citizens of today and tomorrow. In his words "children represent continuity and as such should be empowered.”
Ogova Ondego likes things to be orderly as expected and well planned. On the other hand he dislikes mediocrity and lack of initiative in people. “I work hard and demand the same from any one I work with,” he says during our rushed interview in the corridors of the Kenya National Theatre.
Ondego’s highest moments are when things are working out great as expected and his lowest moments are when things are not working out great despite the effort being put in.
Being a family man and working with the media is quite challenging since he spends most of time at work. However this has not hindered him from offering his full-time and unconditional love to his family. He began his work when his first child who is now 17 years old was a baby. He however is happy since his children support him and acknowledge his work. In fact, all the here children have always participated n Lola Kenya Screen. Both Fadhili and Karama, who served as screening officers during Lola Kenya Screen 2008 have both passed through the film production workshop offered every year, Mina has served on the Film Jury and Film Production Workshop.
Interestingly enough Ogova Ondego’s role model is Jesus Christ whose influence is felt by the whole world, including the Gregorian calendar that is based on His birth day. His other heroes include Mikhail Gorbachev, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Mahatma Gandhi.
Ondego’s greatest desire is to see the world transformed socially into a better place for every child, woman and man.
Ogova Ondego says the 3rd edition of Lola Kenya Screen has exceeded expectations. He nonetheless says the greatest challenege to Lola Kenya Screen is resource-mobilisation.
Noting hat funding he various programmes of Lola Kenya Screen has been quite a challenge and thanking Africalia of Belgium, the Jan Vrijman Fund of the Netherlands and Goethe-Institut n Kenya for their support without Lola Kenya Screen 2008 wold no have been, Ondego appeals to the various organs of the Kenya government dealing with the issues of children, youth, women, and culture to support Lola Kenya Screen in reaching out to every needy child and youth.
Since its inception in 2005, Ondego says Lola Kenya Screen has helped add 31 child filmmakers, 14 journalist, 13 film judges, 7 MCs and 15 children and youth television drama producers and 6 documentary films for children and youth producers to eastern Africa’s creative and cultural spectrum. The festival has also showcasd more than 1200 best possible films for children, youth and family from all over the world. All this, Ondego says, gives him great joy.
Ondego pays special tribute to the Lola Kenya Screen board chair Signe Zelich-Jensen and is “eternally grateful to the many other individuals and organizations spread around th world who suppot Lola Kenya Screen.”
To Ondego,the 3rd Lola Kenya Screen is a success, especially with regard to drawing various skill-development experts and facilitators from various countries to share their expertise with eastern Africans.
Ogova Ondego urges every one to give children a chance: to be heard on virtually everything in life"!
About he writer
Rushel Rangala, a member of the Lola Kenya Screen 2008 Festival Press, attends Cardinal Otunga High School, Mosocho, Kisi, Kenya
Comments