African Women in Media (AWiM), in partnership with UNESCO under the framework of the IPDC announces the kick off/ launch of the Risk Communication and Community Engagement project (RCCE) today, July 1, 2020.  

This project which received applications from over 600 female journalists from Eastern Africa with interest in the areas of health/risk communication and community engagement in light of the Covid 19 global pandemic. The selected participants are thrilled with the prospect of what is to come in the next four weeks, having sent in their pitches, participants cannot wait to use the knowledge gained from this training on developing those pitches into published works.  

This project is in line with the SDG goal 5 which seeks to achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls and the AWiM priority of administering projects that support African women in the production of media content, and projects that support productions that contribute to changing the narrative about African women.  

The training which would hold virtually for one month on the AwiMLearning Hub is set to feature six courses of ten modules each from six skilful and adept minds to grace this century and continent. These modules would range from safety for journalists (offline and online) by Vicensia Fuko, automated journalism by Blaise Aboh, identifying gendered angles and impact stories by Ruona Meyers, balanced health reporting by Esther Nakkazi, accessing, interpreting and fact-checking scientific information by Dr. Joannie Bewa and ethical health reporting by Sumeya Gasa. These are resources and skills much needed by journalists today especially in the reportage of Covid 19 related issues. 

The project is also set to birth a research paper by one of the brightest research minds that would be featured and presented at the next AWiM event. This research would focus on reporting and journalism for the African woman during the Covid 19 pandemic and its impact on their professional and career growth, and the results would be geared towards the development and education of female journalists in Africa both now and to come. 

In a time where the world is being ravaged by this pandemic, AWiM chooses to stay bright and true to her mission of supporting African women media associations, networks and groups in Africa who seek to support African women working in media industries, so that they can effectively deliver their objectives and share their knowledge; through research, advocacy and partnerships that impact positively the way media functions in relation to African women.  

This timely partnership and project is one that will set the precedence for future projects to come from AWiM as we are still in the industry of making our tomorrow better than today with our actions of today. In the words of Former first lady of the United States of America; 

“There’s power in allowing yourself to be known and heard, in owning your unique story, in using your authentic voice” – Michelle Obama. 

Here’s to us telling our stories, using our unique voices and here’s to our sponsors who amplify those voices, you are forever gems and we appreciate your constant support.