Media outputs from Afghanistan

Tomáš Vasilko, a Slovak journalist and reporter working for one of the largest Slovak dailies Dennik N, Tomáš Vasilko who participated in the joint media trip to Afghanistan in July 2017 organized by the project partner BAAG prepared a long reportage from the trip named Reportáž z najchudobnejšieho kúta Ázie,odkiaľ utekajú ľudia, a čo s tým robí Západ (Reportage from the poorest corner of Asia, a place from where people run away and what the West does about that).

Photo: Joel van Houdt

During the trip, he met Jana Jakubíková from Slovakia, who has been living in Afghanistan for more than six years where she is helping Afghan women, and published an interview Cestu do Afganistanu som rodičom zatajila (I concealed my trip to Afghanistan from my parents) with her.   

Premiere of documentary Flowers for Europe

“Slovakia in the heart of Europe, Kenya in the Eastern corner of Africa - two geographically distant countries. Few decades ago we could say that they have nothing in common. In the meantime, however, the globalisation created denser net of mutual relations and connections all around the world. Slovakia and Kenya are not exceptions. The question is which of these two countries benefits and which one looses from this relationship? The documentary Kvety pre Európu (Flowers for Europe) investigates the influence of rich global North on developing global South by bringing stories from two Kenyan regions.”

This short text is an annotation to the documentary which the Slovak NGDO Platform has co-produced with the Slovak national TV thanks to the project Media4development.

First time it was publicly presented at the international film festival Jeden svet (One World) in one of the most popular culture spaces in Bratislava - KC Dunaj on October 10, 2017. 

After the documentary premiere, a public debate Afrika medzi riadkami (Africa between the Lines) was held, attended by Adam Hanuljak, the documentary director, Peter Ivanič, the project media coordinator, Tomáš Lindner, a journalist specialized on Africa. The discussion on how to display Africa in media without prejudices and stereotypes was facilitated by Lukáš Zorád, an ecologist that spent in Kenya 6 years as a manager of developing projects.

Winners of competition 2017 Decent Life for All

Best photos:

1st place: Maroš Matoušek, Nádej menom Emmaculate (Hope named Emmaculate), Kenya 2017

2nd place: Veronika Rendeková, Kráľ Benguely (King of Benguela), Angola 2017

3rd place: Katarína Líšková, Leo (Leo), Cuba 2017

Best articles/stories:

1st place: Lukáš Onderčanin, Rwandské ženy genocída nezlomila. Spája ich káva (Genocide did not break Rwandan women. They are connected by coffee), Rwanda, 2017

2nd place: Stanislava Harkotová, Mosulský denník (Diary from Mosul), Iraq 2017

3rd place: Matúš Krčmárik, Vychovávali zo mňa stroj na vraždenie a takmer uspeli, spomína dvanásťročný chlapec (They were bringing me up to become a killing machine. They almost managed to), Iraq 2016

The ceremonial announcement of the results and the awarding the prizes took place at the travelling festival Cestou necestou on Friday, November 10, 2017. Visitors of the festival could see the best 11 photos and read all 3 best stories/articles from Friday to Sunday, November 12.

Phillip Jakpor: Journalists bear potential to change the world

At the end of September 2017 we had a chance to host a brilliant guest here in Slovakia, whom we could invite thanks to our Finnish partner organisation VIKES. The Nigerian environmental journalist and activist Phillip Jakpor paid his visit to Central Europe, accompanied by the Media4Development project coordinator from Finland, Riikka Seppala. They attended two events the Slovak NGDO Platform organised for both, pre-service and in-service journalists.

At first, our guests visited Department of journalism at the Comenius University in Bratislava where Phillip presented his story of an investigative environmental journalist in the global South country, the story of environmental challenges being uncovered in spite of the interests of powerful people and groups in his country. Phillip was able, thanks to his rhetoric, to catch attention of at least 50 - 60 future journalists and their teachers. Students used opportunity to ask him questions and were interested in what was his most valuable investigative story or if Nigerian women work as journalists.

The next day we organised event dedicated especially to professional journalists who already work in various newspapers and media outlets here in Slovakia. Phillip met them, not only to present his story again, but also to do some networking and discuss professional issues while having rich Slovak breakfast with fine fair trade coffee.

We Have Reminded Slovak Public of Importance of Water for Global Development

Many people in Slovakia consider early autumn to be the best season from all. So do we. Besides vineyards and apple orchards full of sweet fruit, it is also the greatest time to spend outside. It is not so hot anymore, but still warm enough to sit & lie down in a park or a meadow. That was one of the reasons why we opted to organise our traditional annual events - Development Days - in pretty nontraditional way. Outside, closer to people we wanted to reach, in a park, square or river bank. So we did.

But our weather preferences and public space option was just little fraction of wider story. We also needed to identify some development topic which is easy to "sell" to people out there in the streets, but also kind of topic which could easily enthuse other NGOs working in the field to participate together with us. Finally, after long and arduous brainstorming sessions, we came to conclusion. What is needed for everyone, but not everyone has it? No, it is not money. It is much more essential than that. It is water. 

Thanks to this well-considered option we were able to engage 7 other NGOs - our member organisations (we are NGDO Platform) - to participate in the campaign, which we have named There Is No Life without Water. They were these: eRko Dobrá novina, ADRA Slovakia, People in Need Slovakia, Integra Foundation, Caritas Slovakia and UNICEF Slovakia. All of them are not only very active in the field of development in general, but they are also deeply involved in water issues in global South countries. Building and servicing wells in desert part of Kenya, planting mangroves by the Indian Ocean, providing water and sanitation to those in need.

Campaign consisted of various elements, but the most important and publicly visible were three afternoon events in three main Slovak towns - Košice in eastern Slovakia, Banská Bystrica in the centre and Bratislava in the west of the country. We, together with dozens of volunteers, have dressed up in yellow t-shirts, blown giant yellow jerry can resembling those jerrycans used in dry regions of global South, took other normal-sized yellow jerry cans to one hand and information flyers to other hand, and went directly into the crowd. Explaining, introducing, chatting, having fun and education at the very same time.

Those who are interested in the atmosphere of the event can watch this short video.

And here is some basic information about the campaign:

campaign public events took place in Košice on 8.9.2017, in Banská Bystrica on 9.9.2017 and in Bratislava on 13.9.2017 (find pictures gallery below)

more than 100 volunteers were directly involved

www.bezvodyniejezivot.sk - website where you can find all the information needed

there were 5 media interviews provided by organisers, and series of articles mentioning campaign and events

campaign was coordinated by Slovak NGDO Platform, but co-organised by 7 other NGDOs in the name of Media 4 Development project

This year so far from Eurohouse - African Days and study trips

Articles

In the beginning of 2017 the article column in Lithuanian daily “Lietuvos žinios” was continued and articles appeared once a week on both printed and electronic versions of the news outlet.

In spring 2017 the new cooperation with Lithuanian second biggest news portal 15min.lt took place and a separate column The World as You See It was initiated in the portal www.15min.lt.

Articles covered the following topics: experiences of Tajik and Pakistani origin people in their native country and Lithuania, political, ecological and religious situation of Ghana, involvement of Afghani youth in film making, elections in Nigeria, traditional Bathika in Indonesia, volunteering in Kenya and Ghana, women’s rights in Mexico and other.    

Study trips

Uganda

5-16 March journalist Goda Jurevičiūtė from the national daily Lietuvos žinios participated in the study trip to Uganda organised by project leading partner Mondo. The trip was followed by the articles published in the above daily on coping with postwar issues and revitaliation of former soldiers in Uganda as well as chess trainer and his work with young people in Uganda. Other articles will be published in the second half of the year as well as informal public discussion will be organised on the journalist’s experience in Uganda.

Philipines

Lithuanian MP Virginijus Sinkevičius participated in the study trip to Philipines for politicians organised by project partner organisation PIN. In cooperation with Lithuania’s MFA meeting with Honorary Consul of the Republic of Lithuania was organised there. As a follow-up of the visit, Mr Sinkevičius organised a briefing to MFA officials so that ensure sustainability and strengthening diplomatic relations with Phillipines. In autumn a number of publicity measures a planned such as public discussion, appearance in electronic and printed national media.

Training in Helsinki

Young freelance journalist Auksė Podolskytė took part in the  training in Helsinki organized by partner organisation VIKES. During the training Auksė has improved her knowledge and skills on reporting on developing countries and issues related to development. Auksė has joined the project team and volunteers as reporter preparing articles for the special column in the national news portal 15min.lt.

African Days’ Events

Number of events were organised on May 22-28 in cooperation with Lithuania’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and other partners and were promoted with the help of outdoor posters, participation in the national radio program, social media. House of Europe implemented  the following events: 3 films’ screenings, forum theatre performance about African immigrant life in Lithuania and the discussion afterwards, slam poetry evening which included competition, discussion on Neoliberal Moral Economy and Africa, public lecture by Elva Narcia “Information saves lives – working on humanitarian news in South Sudan”, public lecture by dr. Jorg Wiegratz “Power and morals: capitalism, fraud & social harm”.

Screening of documentaries

Three documentaries of the project partners, namely  Market economy about Ethiopian market and its daily routine and Conciousness In Mobiles about Kenya and usage of innovative technologies in the development produced by Estonian TV ERR as well as documentary about mountain gorrilas Mountain spirits produced by Latvian producer Woodpecker films. The screening took place in the cinema boutique Pasaka.

Lectures and roundtables

Mexican journalist Elva Narcia gave a lecture and facilitated discussion with journalism students at the Vilnius University institute of Journalism on reporting on development and her personal experience in Afghanistan and South Sudan. The lecture followed by an interview and an article in news portal 15min.lt

Public lecture by Jörg Wiegratz

On the occasion of International Africa Days, dr. Jorg Wiegratz gave a lecture „Power and morals: capitalism, economic fraud and social harm in Africa and beyond“.  Jörg Wiegratz is Lecturer in Political Economy of Global Development at the University of Leeds. He researches the political economy and moral economy of neoliberalism in Africa and elsewhere. In the seminar, he argued that capitalism is a moral order and moral economy, i.e. has a moral grammar. Capitalism’s moral order, together with its political-economic order, has over the last centuries produced vast social harms in numerous places, from large-scale colonial slavery, imperial wars, and workplace injuries and deaths, to climate change effects. J.Wiegratz focused on one particularly relevant case: the massive and increasing levels of economic fraud in many countries across the world, including in sub-Saharan Africa.

Forum theatre performance

Forum theatre performance was organized on the issues of Nigerian newcomer life in Lithuania challenging Lithuanian attitudes towards newcomers and developing countries. After the performance roundtable discussion with migration expert, journalist having experience in Nigeria and Ghana as well  as original Nigerian residing in Lithuania took place. During the discussion experts shared their insights into how developing countries and their inhabitants are seen by Lithuanian population, what could be done in order to change negative attitudes and raise awareness.

Discussion “Neoliberal moral economy: origins and operations”

In the discussion dr. Jorg Wiegratz discussed the neoliberal moral economy and its’ impacts around the world with the Vilnius University academics: dr. Vytautas Kuokštis and dr. Rūta Žiliukaitė. The discussion focused around the topic is it neoliberalism to blame for global social and economic injustice, fraud and power asymmetry.

Discussion “Neoliberal moral economy: origins and operations”

Informal discussions about developing countries

Three informal discussion in the public places of Vilnius about developing countries took place. Journalists who visited it and people representing particular countries: India, Palestine and Nepal made the presentations. Radio and daily delfi.lt journalist Karolis Vyšniauskas talked about Palestine trip in which he took part together with journalists from other Baltic states, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Daily “Verslo zinios” journalist Milda Tarcijonaite told about Nepal and the challenges people face after the earthquake. In the third discussion social media campaign “Ours” participant Kranthi Cumar told about his homeland India, in particular growing IT city Hyderabad and the mix of traditionalism and modernism in the country.

Social media campaign

Social media campaign “Ours” continued to bring the attention to the people from developing countries living in Lithuania and relevant issues in their homeland. Every week the photo story is posted in numeral places on Facebook.  People from Ukraine, Moldova, Pakistan, India and etc. were portrayed. The separate Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/Ours.Musiskiai/ was launched and currently it has more than 300 followers.