Thread by thread: Building Ethiopia’s social fabric through youth dialogue
Inspired by a documentary showcasing young Ethiopian designers and artists collaborating to raise awareness about media literacy, social cohesion and civic dialogue, Mersa Media Institute arranged a nationwide youth dialogue initiative about media literacy, encouraging youth leadership. “I never imagined my voice could matter this much” said Meron Alemayehu, a 24-year-old health science student from […]
From voice to impact in Ethiopia: Wogeta FM informs and engages communities
Wogeta FM has grown into one of the most professional community radio stations in Ethiopia thanks to long-term support from Fojo Media Institute. The station now broadcasts 12 hours a day, featuring popular programmes that give voice to community concerns and amplifies them to the point of holding local officials accountable. Community radio plays a […]
Gender in focus when journalism teachers discussed pedagogical methods
Ethiopian Journalism Educators Network (EJEN) just concluded two 2-day workshops in Jimma and Addis Ababa on how to achieve more student-active and interactive classrooms in journalism education. The Swedish Instructor and Senior Lecturer in Pedagogy, Kristina Hellberg, from the Linnaeus University led the workshops. Ethiopian Journalism Educators’ Network, established a few years ago and with members from 26 journalism schools across all […]
All clear for the second phase of Fojo’s Ethiopia programme
Since 2018, Fojo has supported journalists, media houses and organisations in Ethiopia under the program “Media reform in a time of change: Promoting journalism and democracy”. We are now entering the second phase of our operations in Ethiopia with new conditions and new objectives. The second phase runs from 2024 to 2027 and has a […]
Social fabric: Promoting literacy through fashion and arts
In December 2023 MERSA Media Institute, with the support of Fojo, gathered hundreds of young people at a festival of fashion and colour to spread knowledge about media literacy and disinformation through culture and communal gathering around the creative arts.
Community Radio – a place for dialogue and change
The local radio station Kore Community Radio FM 92.3, supported by Fojo, developed the programme “Tilosh”, providing space for dialogue and discussion about outdated customs and norms. Community member Muluneh Wusera had the courage to not follow the given norms.
Trauma training helps reporters deal with conflict’s aftermath
Women journalists in Ethiopia’s Tigray region, traumatized by covering the civil war, received mental health and trauma reporting training supported by Fojo and the Ethiopian Womens’ Media Association.
Kidist Dejene teaches media literacy to her community
Kidist Dejene was a student at Haramaya University when she was enrolled in a media literacy training provided by neighbouring Bahir Dar University. The training changed her views and gave her another perspective, teaching her to be skeptical, checking content before sharing it or taking it in. She found it so inspiring that she wanted to share the knowledge with her community.
Local voices unite when 35 community radio stations gather
Community radio remains Ethiopia’s primary information source, especially crucial in rural regions where it’s the sole means of access. As 35 community radio stations unite for the first time in a conference, discussing and learning in local languages, the potential impact spans millions of people nationwide.
Ethiopia establishes journalism educators’ network
Journalism educators in Ethiopia are establishing the Ethiopian Journalism Educators’ Network (EJEN) to bring together media academics from the country’s 24 institutions that offer journalism education. This article was published by our partner Wits University in South Africa on their website. Fojo supports the establishment of EJEN as part of our programme in Ethiopia. Written by Enoch Sithole.