Discovering success at MIJ

Two years ago, Simona Siad began her jhr internship at The Daily Times in Blantyre, Malawi. After a few months, her efforts extended beyond the newsroom to a classroom down the road at the Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ).

“The classroom was a really unique place to work with young journalists on human rights issues,” proclaims Siad. To this day, her impact resonates among MIJ students.

Archibald Kasakura, a 30-year-old diploma student at MIJ, shares the impact Siad had on his journalism skills. “Before she came onto the scene, I didn’t know how to write features,”Kasakura recalls, “Simona made me what I am today.”

When Kasakura first started writing, he relied on Siad for about 70 percent of his work. “Initially, I thought she was being so hard on me, but now I know it was part of the growing process,” he says. But these days, Kasakura works independently at producing high-quality stories on a regular basis.

Over the past couple of years, Kasakura has written nearly 40 articles. After his first article was published, the ambitious student said that he “gathered the courage to keep writing.” Focusing on human rights features, Kasakura has published stories on children’s rights (issues of forced labour and sexual abuse), the rights of prisoners living with HIV, the right to religion and free primary education, and most recently, Malawi’s development since independence in 1964.

Keen to expose human right issues, Kasakura uses his downtime between classes to freelance his articles. Writing on a nearly broken-down laptop that he borrows from his uncle, Kasakura recognizes the value of his work.

“I used to see human rights as something that doesn’t apply to Malawians, but now I see the importance of them,” he states. “[Simona] has opened my eyes.”

Siad and Kasakura worked toward making everyone on the world fully aware of their rights–at the core of jhr’s mandate. She remembers him fondly, “Archibald is a really special student…I could tell right away that he had an incredible enthusiasm for human rights reporting.”

Kasakura says, “As a reporter, I have a duty to see that human rights of Malawians are respected.” He firmly believes that writing such stories will create change.

Initially, Kasakura wanted to become a lawyer but he was always interested in writing. Upon being rejected from law school and receiving alternate suggestions that he study journalism, he decided to enroll at MIJ. Looking around the office, Kasakura declares with poised confidence, “This is where I belong.”

Bobby pins galore

For a less enlightening post:

Working at MIJ

Just outside of the city centre, tucked away off the highway is The Malawi Institute of Journalism (MIJ), a small building that houses 250 students, two classrooms, three offices, and a fully-functioning radio station. The contrast of the red-lettered MIJ FM sign on the pale yellow wall, is easily seen from the road.

Down the dusty pathway and over the protruding tree roots, I walk toward the white gate that shields trespassers from entering school property. Although I am not a trespasser, I am certainly an outsider. The students know it, the teachers know it, and the receptionist knows it... for now.

I enter the building, pretending that I don't feel people staring at me as I walk by. I try to make eye contact and smile at everyone. Some people just stare. Others wave and say hello. It will only be a matter of a few weeks before I feel totally comfortable here. I know the blank stares will turn into "muli bwanji" (How are you?); and my response will eventually be "ndiri bwino" (I am fine) rather than a meek smile and awkward wave. As such with any new job, it takes time before everyone is comfortable with The New Girl.

For the next six months, I will be working with the MIJ students to build their portfolios. Most students graduate with a great knowledge of journalism theory but unless they initiate their own freelance work, they often have nothing tangible to show potential employers.

We have split up the two classes into eight study groups. Each week has a theme as we work toward building human rights feature stories. With the hope that each student will be able to pitch their story to a credible publication, we will talk about what is newsworthy, how to research a story, how to conduct interviews, how to write/produce a story, etc.

It will probably be a little bit tricky for me to help produce stories that are meant for TV and radio because I've only ever worked in print, but I will do my best.

We will also be working on the electronic newspaper with the students. This project's goal is twofold: to rebuild the publication and to provide the students with more practical experience.

Similarly, we are going to try working with the students to create human rights features for MIJ FM. Although I don't have any radio experience, I will be able to help with the content of the stories. It's a scary thought to work in radio but there are components of journalism that I understand which expand across each medium.

MIJ is a great place to work so far. The teachers, students and journalists at the station have all been very welcoming. The students are keen and excited to work with us. It's just a happy place.

One student just sauntered down the hall singing "I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed." How often does that happen at universities and workplaces in Canada?

Jealous, dear readers? You should be. Because "I am blessed, I am blessed, I am blessed" to be here.

Multi-tasking women

TIA - This is Africa. A Malawian woman glides down the sidewalk. She is on a mission. She has a basket of bananas curiously placed on her head and she carries a plastic bag - bursting at the seams with cassava roots - in her left hand. Her baby is sleeping soundly on her back; he is wrapped up snugly in his mother's brightly-coloured chitenje. Incredibly, the lady is also holding a cell phone in her right hand as she speaks fervently in Chichewa. TIA.

TIJ - This is Journalism. A young Canadian girl walks at the pace of a turtle (which is still faster than most of the Malawians she is passing). She is squinting through her glasses, which were improperly-prescribed, as she studies the ground for rocks to avoid tripping over. With two newspapers tucked under her left arm and her cell phone firmly placed in her bra, the young journalist has her hands free to carry two styrofoam cups of coffee. They are filled to the brim without lids. She regrets not taking up the store owner's offer to carry them to work for her, as the coffee drips down her hands, slowly burning her skin. TIJIM - This is Journalism in Malawi

Safe in Malawi

*written on July 12*

Last night was the final match of the World Cup. A group of us went to a bar called Blue Elephant to watch the game. As the game continued into extra time, many people became more and more intoxicated. Drunken tension was building within the crowd. There was a small skirmish between a Canadian-Malawian and a local because she took a photo of everyone at the bar without permission.

One young man approached her and after many words and some shoving around, I assume they came to an agreement of some sorts. Luckily, the arguing stopped for the remainder of the game.

Although the fighting made me nervous, there was something else going
on in a similar setting in Uganda - something much worse.

I am saddened at the deadly news from last night and I apologize for
starting off my in-country blog postings on such a somber note but
safety is something I should address right away.

There is always a possibility of something like this happening in any
country, at any point in time. This is something that I am aware of.
Riots happened in Kampala after I left the country; G20 riots were
occurring downtown from where I was in Toronto; suicide bombings
happen every day. We all know this.

But I need to assure you (my lovely readers – those who care about
me), I feel very safe here in Malawi. I am living with an incredible
family, with three security guards and a couple of dogs to protect us. Although some people scoff at the idea of gated community-living, it makes me feel safe at night.

After speaking with the Human Rights teacher here at MIJ, he assured
me that Malawi does not have a history of violence like Uganda, and
that there is no desire for tension here in Blantyre.

So, despite my nervousness of small skirmishes that occur in Blantyre,
please know that it is a safe country and I feel confident enough that
I might even go to the other extreme and become too comfortable with
my security.

Only time will tell.

Countdown: zero!

Today is the day!

I'm nervous and excited. I'm afraid I won't be ready in time (and clearly this blog posting is helping with that...) And I still have to do some quick shopping and pack.

We fly out at 6pm and arrive in Lilongwe just before midnight (Central African Time). Then it'll be a long bus-ride down to Blantyre. So it'll be a good few days of solid travel.

There is a six-hour time difference (from Ontario) so however that works out for everyone in Canada -- well, you're all smart.

I'll post again as soon as I get a chance, if only to say that I'm alive.

Wish me well!