Manzil Media Lab

Empowering Underserved Communities through Media Education

Manzil Media Lab (MML) program seeks to create awareness and provide livelihood opportunities for students from underserved communities in media fields such as filmmaking, graphic design, and animation. By equipping them with the necessary skills, we aim to empower these students to pursue their passions and thrive in the industry.

Through our program, students will:

Use media and technology to raise awareness of social issues.
Develop essential soft skills like problem-solving, design thinking, and teamwork.
Demonstrate employability in skilled media jobs compared to dead-end positions.
Become financially independent and support their families.

Program Goals and Impact

Bridging the Gap in Media Education

Media courses are often unaffordable, leaving many lower-income and underserved community members unable to pursue their interests and careers in the media field. Government schools rarely offer comprehensive instruction in these areas, resulting in a lack of awareness and accessibility. At Manzil Media Lab, we aim to change this by providing underprivileged students with the opportunity to explore and excel in media education.

Unlocking Opportunities for Employment

There is a growing demand for skilled professionals in graphic design, filmmaking, video editing, and other media-related fields. However, doors to these opportunities remain closed for many talented individuals due to limited access and awareness. Our mission is to bridge this gap and create pathways for underserved students to enter the media industry.

About MML Program

Manzil Media Lab launched in April 2022 through a partnership between Manzil and two entrepreneurial organizations, FilmArt and Manzil Mystics. Our program offers four sub-programs, each consisting of a 4-month professional course:

Filmmaking

Animation

Graphic Designing

Audio Production

Throughout these courses, students will gain expertise in various aspects of media creation, including story-writing, pre-production planning, photography, cinematography, lighting and set design, audio recording, video editing, logo and poster creation, typography, color theory, professional branding, motion graphics, and animation film production.

As of 2022-23, the program has achieved the following impact:

Addressing Challenges and Transforming the Program

Initially, we encountered challenges such as student dropouts and a perception that the program was merely a hobby. Many students were not taking the courses seriously as a means to a career. There was also the need to create awareness among underserved individuals, allowing them to explore media skills before committing to a long-term course.

To overcome these challenges, we took decisive action and introduced STEP (Short-Term Engagement Programs) in 2023-24. As a part of this program, workshops would be conducted for nearby communities, helping them understand the affordability and viability of pursuing a career in media. Students can gain hands-on experience and insights into different media disciplines. And after the workshops, interested individuals can also sign up for the Manzil Media Lab professional courses. This change in approach will allow us to create awareness and provide opportunities for exploration, thus enabling students to make informed decisions about their career paths.

The introduction of STEP led us to re-evaluate and transform our program process as below:

The revised program process ensures that we effectively engage students, provide high-quality training, monitor their progress, and support them in securing placements and opportunities in the media industry.

By addressing the challenges and implementing STEP, we have made the Manzil Media Lab program more impactful, empowering underserved students to explore and pursue careers in the media field.

Projects by MML Students

We take pride in the outstanding work produced by our students at Manzil Media Lab. Explore some of their remarkable creations by clicking the links below:

“Radha” – Directed by Rakesh Parida

“Win Over Fear” – Directed by Shivani Rajoriya

“The Fallen Piece” – Directed by Mayank Bali

“Old Fort” – Directed by Devendra Kumar

We are proud of our students, and their stories of change at Manzil. And with your help, we want to create many more stories of change..

“I joined MML course as a shy boy. Throughout the program, I opened up, became dedicated and honest in work, showed great progress in camera handling, and secured an internship with Manzil for social media management, where I shoot and edit videos. This is a remarkable transformation that I see in myself, and I am grateful to MML for it.” – Mayank Bali, Filmmaking

“I enrolled in the May to August batch and always made sure to submit my assignments promptly. Throughout the course, I witnessed significant progress in my skills. After completing the program, I continued practicing and even ventured into animation. I am now thrilled to be an upcoming teacher in the animation class under MML..The support and opportunities provided by MML have been instrumental in my growth, and I am grateful for the chance to inspire others in the field of animation.”

– Roshni, Graphic Design

“MML helped me defy expectations and pursue my passion for filmmaking. With their support, I excelled in the class, embraced challenges, and eagerly assisted others. My leadership skills shone during the final project, and now I freelance as an assistant director with various production houses. MML played a pivotal role in shaping my success.” – Sarth Kapil, Filmmaking

“My journey with Manzil has been life-changing. With a passion for rapping but no music production background, I joined MML course. In just 3 months, I became a skilled beat-maker and produced outstanding songs. Now, I’ve secured a job in the production field, turning my dreams into reality. Thank you for the transformative experience.” – Shubham, Audio Production

Call for Help

Manzil Media Lab is committed to providing professional courses to underprivileged students free of cost. While we have received generous contributions from various individuals, we still need additional support to ensure the success and expansion of the program.

Here’s how you can make a difference:

Donate to help us cover the expenses of running the courses and enable us to launch this program on a larger scale. Reach out to Lalit.

CALL NOW

If your organization requires media professionals, support us by offering job opportunities or training positions to our skilled and job-ready students.

CONTACT US

Volunteer with us and help in monitoring and assessing the program’s effectiveness. Or share your expertise by leading expert sessions on professional courses.

JOIN US

If you are willing to contribute or need further information, please reach out to Lalit at +91 9650762992. Together, we can make a lasting impact..