Who We Are

Sandscribe Communications is a media production and training company based in Addis Ababa. Its purpose is to develop quality media products and train future media professionals who can play a leading role in nurturing human understanding and social transformation in the Horn of Africa.

Sandscribe Communications combines research, training, and media production to ensure that artistic endeavor and media standards continue to mature in the region. Mass media is the primary tool for reaching and educating a developing nation. The task of educating, informing, and entertaining a public audience is largely determined by the technical knowledge and professional competence of those working in the media. However, technical knowledge and professionalism alone are not sufficient. In addition, there must be ethical and critical dialogue about social goals. In other words, for the mass media to be an effective instrument for education and social change, media practitioners such as producers, writers, directors, editors, actors, and journalists need to be trained with a clear focus on the improvement of the whole society. These two elements -- technical skill and ethical maturity -- are both necessary for social and economic development. Therefore, the goal of the Sandscribe Communications is to create a suitable space, to be called the Sandscribe Communications Center (SCC), where technical communications training can be accomplished together with an ethical vision of social development.

Sandscribe Communications aims to contribute to Ethiopia’s efforts to eradicate poverty by enhancing the effectiveness of the mass media. Media can bring about positive societal changes by educating the public and raising awareness on critical development issues. Media plays a key role in providing relevant and valuable information. It is also a platform for public dialogue on important issues such as health, education, poverty, gender discrimination, HIV/Aids, cultural diversity, and much more.

THE SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES OF SANDSCRIBE COMMUNICATIONS

Producing films, videos, and audios of substance using up-to-date digital technology, non-linear editing and computer animation for theatrical release, TV and radio broadcast, marketing, commercials or training presentations. Its services include researching, scripting, budgeting, storyboarding, directing, shooting, editing, and computer graphics. It will provide clients with first-quality production in studio, on location, or overseas for DV film, large event coverage, live video projection, teleconferencing, television broadcasts, satellite transmissions etc.

Establishing a media-training center, to be known as “Sandscibe Communications”, that would provide rigorous short-term and long-term trainings, workshops, and capacity building discussions on various areas of communications and art. The center would be for selected students with special talent and serious ambitions to excel as creative professionals in the fast growing communications / entertainment industry. It offers cutting edge training with the most up-to-date equipment and dynamic instructors and great communicators, who are selected from within the region and abroad based on their professional expertise and practical success in the communications industry.

Coordinating and conducting literature reviews, focus group discussions, and capacity building workshops for identifying health, socio-cultural, economic, psychological, and other related issues. This would focus on issues that are especially a major concern of the youth in the Horn of Africa and would help scriptwriters, directors, actors, program producers, and other communication practitioners to effectively involve in the production of culturally and socially appropriate and purposeful media programs and materials.

Enabling young amateurs and professionals working in private and government media entities develop the skills and master the craft of acting, script writing, directing, cinematography, video journalism, television production, radio programming, communication management and leadership through short-term trainings – which are instrumental for capacity building of the media and the practitioners. A special consideration will be taken on how these trainings would particularly benefit women in the media and performing arts. Selected trainees with special talents and serious ambitions will be given the opportunity not only to learn the state of the art and innovative techniques but also to excel in the art and media by pursuing their dream career.

Sharpening the thinking of working professionals and new students by engaging them in researching and dialoguing practical social issues and helping them contribute towards solutions and building positive future.

Sandscribe Communications works with dynamic and practically successful writers, producers, production managers, directors, cinematographers, videographers, lighting designers, sound technicians, makeup artists, graphic artists and editors etc. in the Horn of Africa and abroad to bring the projects to life, on time and on budget. It focuses on the issues of major social concern including health and socio-cultural issues, and follows a unique practical approach to media production by providing a venue for a continuous growth and upgrading of skills for graduates from the training center and other likeminded schools.