The Oscar van Leer Fellowships from Bernard van Leer Foundation were announced in April this year for young journalists from developing countries interested in covering social issues, especially those dealing with disadvantaged children. The opportunity was available in the countries of Colombia, Mexico, Peru, Kenya, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, the Caribbean, and the Indian region of Orissa. The Foundation makes active grants to NGOs in these countries only. Although only three fellowships were made available initially, the overwhelming response made the Foundation to increase the number to six.
The six journalists who have received the fellowships are Kanina Foss from South Africa, Namita Kohli from India, Carmen Matos from the Dominican Republic, Erick W Ndung from Kenya, Nick Oluoch from Kenya, and Tatiana Velasquez from Colombia. They will be honoured with a dinner marking the 60th anniversary celebrations of the Foundation in November following which there will be a four-week training course in Netherlands on journalism and children’s issues tailor-made by the Radio Netherlands Training Centre. The program will help the journalists in gaining better understanding of using media for spreading awareness on children’s issues in their own countries.
Source
2 October 2009
