By Destiny Kwenchia
Joseph Dumbula, a Malawian correspondent for Pan African Visions has been selected for the prestigious Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship. Dumbula whose works feature regularly on the www.panafricanvisions.com news site and the monthly Pan African Visions Magazine is amongst the first Malawians to participate in the Reham Al-Farra Memorial Journalism Fellowship which was mandated in December 1980 by UN General Assembly Resolution 35/201.
Formerly known as the DPI Training Programme for Broadcasters and Journalists from Developing Countries, the programme was renamed in 2003 in honor of Reham Al-Farra, a 29-year-old Jordanian public information officer who was killed in the 19 August 2003 bombing of the UN headquarters in Baghdad.
The Fellowship is a unique opportunity for young aged between 22 to 35 working journalists from developing countries and countries with economies in transition to cover the United Nations.
Along with 21 others drawn across the globe, Joseph will through the 3-week programme have an opportunity to attend special briefings, interview senior officials and exchange ideas with colleagues from around the world.
Joseph who has been reporting on a broad range of issues and events for www.panafricanvisions.com and the monthly Pan African Visions magazine , intends to also capitalize on the fellowship to expand his knowledge on practices that define reporting on rights of children and women and people with disabilities by essentially also as required to promote better understanding of the United Nations in his home country Malawi.
In Malawi, he has been trained on various issues including taking part in several activities meant to support ends to the plight faced by people with albinism, child rights reporting and politics.
For PAV’s Managing Editor Ajong Mbapndah L, the Fellowship will help Joseph Dumbula to continue building with the great progress he has made since he joined the publication some three years ago. Dumbula . Wishing Joseph well, he encouraged other reporters to keep working hard and be bold in going for opportunities that will help polish their skills and broaden horizons.
