Our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Romanus Odhiambo, receives Digital Storytelling equipment from Dr. Patrick Kubai, the Micro-Research MUST Site Coordinator

In a revolutionary collaboration between Healthy Child Uganda (HCU) at Mbarara University of Science and Technology, the University of Calgary in Canada, and Micro-Research International, a transformative initiative is underway. Titled “Digital Storytelling for Global Health Research and Action,” this project aims to harness the power of Digital Storytelling (DST) to drive research and action across borders.

The project’s scope is vast, extending its reach to Micro-Research sites in Malawi, Kenya, Tanzania, and Rwanda. Through intensive workshops held between January and May 2024 in Mbarara city, Uganda, participants were equipped with the tools and techniques of DST methodology. Now, equipped with newfound knowledge, the Meru University of Science and Technology (MUST) team of facilitators has received a generous donation of full DST electronics gear, marking a significant milestone in their journey towards empowering communities and promoting research.

Digital storytelling is a dynamic approach to Knowledge Translation (KT) that fosters authentic engagement and impactful communication. Spearheaded by luminaries like Prof. Noni, Bob Bartollussi of Dalhousie University, and Dr. Michael J. Lang of the University of Calgary, alongside the team at Healthy Child Uganda, DST is poised to revolutionize research methodologies.

With the newly acquired equipment, the MUST team can now embark on numerous community interventions. From behavior change communication to health program implementation and the dissemination of research outputs, the possibilities are endless. The DST gear facilitates not only the recording and storing of projects but also empowers communities to share their narratives authentically.

At the heart of this initiative lies Dr. Patrick Kinyua Kubai, the Micro-Research MUST Site Coordinator, and Coordinator of Research, Collaboration, and Extension (RCE) under the Research, Innovation, Commercialization, and Extension (RICE) Directorate. Dr. Kubai’s passion for research echoes the sentiments of our Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Romanus Odhiambo who stands unwaveringly at the forefront of supporting research activities aligned with the University’s mandate.

As we look towards the future, the fusion of technology and storytelling promises to break barriers, amplify voices, and drive meaningful change. Through collaborative efforts like these, we inch closer to a world where health research is not just confined to laboratories and academic journals but becomes a living, breathing force for positive transformation in communities worldwide. The journey has just begun, but the potential for impact is boundless.