INAGI - A Visual SWOT

INAGI is a Tamil abbreviation for Ilaingargaludan Nagaramum Giramamum (இநகி – இளையோருடன் கிராமமும் நகரமும்), meaning “Youth with Urban and Rural Areas.” It is a unique initiative to empower underprivileged communities in rural areas by revealing problems faced by youth and village people. INAGI is led by the Youth Film Club (YFC) which was launched during our 2015 summer camp at Pondicherry Engineering College. The club visits villages and uses video equipment to visually capture the Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) of the communities. The films are screened in the village at an interactive session to discuss ways to transform weaknesses and threats into strengths and opportunities. The club engages community development and youth action groups and encourages the villages to take action against pressing issues. The entire process takes about one month, and the club aims to complete ten village visits and SWOT analyses each year.