What started in 2006 as an initiative that saw some students pay their own way to intern in Rwanda has expanded into a scholarship-based media, communications and business internship program that spans across the continent.
The Centre for Media and Transitional Societies sends journalism and communications students to intern in various African countries. The latest batch of 19 interns, some of whom just arrived home, were stationed in Uganda, Sierra Leone, Rwanda, South Sudan, Kenya, and other countries.
“Anytime I can put someone on a catapult and send them to Africa, I will do it,” said Allan Thompson, the project’s director. “My slogan is that Carleton has sent more journalists to Africa than the entire Canadian news media combined.”
The countries are chosen because of their post-conflict, post-election, or post-cataclysm state, Thompson said, adding the program wants to focus on the importance of media in the rebuilding of countries.
Heather Yundt, who interned in Sierra Leone, said while abroad, she learned to work in an office with far fewer resources than she’s used to. At Radio Democracy, she said full-time journalists make less than $100 a month.
“You can still do good journalism without all the resources,” Yundt said.
Still, the experience isn’t just about journalism.
All the interns present spoke about how their trips abroad were simply good life experiences.
“This is me and Dan with a cheetah,” said Ari Altstedterm, who interned in Kenya, while showing off a photo of himself and another intern.
Marc Ellison, who interned in Uganda and South Sudan, said one of his highlights was meeting United Nations Secretary-General Ban-ki Moon.
“You just need to take initiative . . . your experience can be anything you want it to be,” said Felicia Pacentrilli, an intern who found time to volunteer at a school teaching kids English, while freelancing for the Kigali Journal and keeping up with her placement in Kigali, Rwanda.
In addition to the current list of destinations, Thompson said he hopes to expand to several new countries, including Zimbabwe, Tunisia and East Timor.
“The purpose of this centre is to try to look for other places that could have that application [of transitional societies],” he said.