How do you communicate complex and sensitive research findings to a wide audience in a fun, engaging, and accessible way? You talk to us at Livinghealth. That is what you do. This was the challenge faced by Toyin Ikuteyijo, a PhD researcher at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, who conducted a groundbreaking study on sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV) among young and adolescent girls in Lagos and Southwest Nigeria.
It was our honour and pleasure to help bring her research work and the dissemination event to life using an innovative 2-part video production titled ‘The Story of Sara’. The short film tells the personal story of Sara, a 14-year-old girl who experienced SGBV, and how she navigated and overcame the trauma. The film also presents some of the key data and insights from Dr. Ikuteyijo’s research, such as the prevalence, causes, and consequences of SGBV and the best practices for prevention and response.
‘The Story of Sara’ is a powerful example of how video can be used as a tool for research communication, and social change. We are especially delighted at this tool being deployed at the PhD level. Kudos to Prof. Akanni Akinyemi (who is also a Deputy Vice-Chancellor at Obafemi Awolowo University), one of the supervisors of Dr. Ikuteyijo, for championing this innovative approach to disseminating a PhD work.
We hope this video production will inspire other researchers to explore creative ways of sharing their findings with diverse audiences and to involve the communities they study in the process. This production also gives a voice to the girls who have experienced SGBV and can contribute to their empowerment and healing, as well as to the advancement of knowledge and action on this critical topic.
I invite you to subscribe to Livinghealth TV so you can catch the second video in the production series. We dedicate this to every “Sara” out there.
