To be an expert mentor comes with responsibilities, but of course also brings a lot of benefits. Naturally, what first comes to mind is the enriching experience of working with the four partner universities of the Rwanda Media Programme (RMP) and the journalist students that are enrolled in each university. You will not be a regular lecturer teaching in the classroom. Instead, you will work with a smaller group of students. They will have applied to be part of the training because they have a special interest in some aspect of journalism such as radio, TV, multimedia or writing – or a subject such as investigative or environmental journalism. You will train them together with the Rwanda Media Programme’s university coordinator and/or with a local journalist. This is to help overcome language and cultural barriers, at the same time as the students can get more hands on and personal coaching. Since you come as a volunteer, we want to tailor your mentorship to your strengths and what you feel comfortable and willing to teach. Using this as our starting point when planning your stay in Rwanda, we will put together groups of students that have a special interest in what you will teach.  

Although you will not receive a regular salary as an expert mentor, Fojo of course covers all surrounding costs, such as: 

• Travel costs (Air fare to and from Rwanda)
• Travel cost for transport to and from the airport in connection with flight departure/arrival 
  
• Travel costs in Rwanda, if they constitute part of the mentorship (i.e. not travels that you do in your free time) 
• Hotel accommodation 
• Per diem based on Swedish Tax Agency regulations. The current per diem rate for Rwanda is 256 SEK per day minus eventual meals covered by the host organisation or Fojo Media Institute. (Breakfast, minus 15 percent, lunch, minus 35 percent, dinner, minus 35 per cent).  
• The Volunteer can request two thirds of the per diem to be paid out in advance, as a travel allowance in SEK into their bank account, prior to the volunteering assignment. Per diem entitlements will be recalculated after completion of the volunteer assignment with any balances to be settled by Fojo, or the volunteer, depending on the situation
• Visa expenses (against a receipt). It is the Volunteers’ responsibility to ensure that they have a valid passport (valid 6 months after arrival to Rwanda) and visas to gain access to Rwanda
• Costs for necessary vaccinations, mandatory covid tests, including antimalarial medication (upon receipt).  
• Equipment that might be required for your trainings (after discussions with Fojo).

Do you want to become one of our Expert Mentors? Send us your CV and a cover letter, mentioning your area of expertise and how you can contribute to the programme.

As mentioned earlier, the RMP has four partner universities. Two of these, East African University Rwanda and Mount Kenya University Rwanda, are located in Kigali. The other two, Institut Catholique and School of Journalism and Communication at University of Rwanda, are located in Muhanga and Huye respectively. Over the years, we have learnt  that often the pedagogy works better and students are more focused if we locate the training outside the outside of the universities’ hometowns. This means that you will have the chance to travel around the country a bit while there.