The Power of Graphic Recording and Bold Innovation
Have you ever stumbled upon an idea that seemed too transformative to work? Something so unique that it left you questioning, “Could this really change things?” That’s precisely the crossroads Jackie found herself at when she discovered graphic recording and its potential to reform civic education in Kenya. It seemed so alien at the time, yet it kept calling to her.
Mzalendo believes in defending and advancing the principles of public participation, openness, inclusion and accountability that are at the core of the Constitution of Kenya. Their commitment to transparency shines through their comprehensive information on parliament and the interactive Dokeza platform, which allows citizens to voice their opinions on current Bills.
Our story with Mzalendo began in the most unexpected way. When Jackie first encountered graphic recording, it was just a flicker of an idea. But she knew its potential could improve how we communicate complex civic issues. With a lot of excitement and nerves, she approached Mzalendo, hoping they’d see her vision.
True to their core values, Mzalendo welcomed Jackie with open arms. They invited her to graphically record the launch of a report they had developed. This act of faith was the seed that grew into a flourishing partnership, transforming and redefining meetings, workshops, and civic education experience across Kenya.
Fast forward to a few weeks ago, when the #OccupyParliament movement was gaining momentum. Mzalendo reached out with a brilliant idea: create a visual summary of the finance bill. The challenge was clear – condense a technical and hefty document into accessible, visual translations of the key proposals. The success of this initiative led to another – summarizing the parliamentary committee on finance’s report. Because, let’s face it, who has the time or the patience to painfully read through a 341-page document? Our collaboration resulted in visual highlights of the most crucial issues, making the information digestible and engaging for everyone.
Here’s what we’ve learned from this journey, and we hope that maybe even you can take something home with this information and you will be able to go for your dreams no matter how absurd they may seem:
Embrace Innovation: Graphic recording was virtually unknown in Kenya when we started. Mzalendo’s openness to this approach has impacted countless lives, proving that a simple act of faith can spark great change.
Be Bold: Stepping out of her comfort zone as a lawyer to draw stick figures was daunting for Jackie. But courage pays off. You never know what might happen until you try. Fortunately, Mzalendo said yes, and this yes has paved the way for Thinkillustrate to help amplify citizens’ voices.
Our partnership with Mzalendo isn’t just about visual summaries or reports; it’s about redefining how civic education is conducted in Kenya. Changing the experience of complex topics into something more snackable, enjoyable and easy to understand. And as we look to the future, we’re excited about the endless possibilities this collaboration holds. Asante Mzalendo trust for taking a leap of faith in Thinkillustrate. Here’s to many more!
Here’s the link to our visual summaries on Mzalendo’s Twitter