I had the great opportunity to join the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) in Accra, Ghana for a 6-weeks summer internship programme where I supported activities under the Media and Good Governance Programme.
I worked on policy briefs about media-related issues mainly in Senegal and Burkina Faso. It made me learn valuable knowledge on the state of media and press freedom in different countries in the West Africa Region. The experience deepened my understanding of media-led advocacy for peace-building and participatory governance. Furthermore, I had the opportunity to write a report on the state of media in Togo in view of the upcoming presidential elections.
Another great part of my work was to sort out the entries and generate statistics for the West Africa Media Excellence Conference and Awards (WAMECA) and the Continental Journalism Awards on AU Charter. Being part of the organisation of such an important event was very gratifying.
Being a native French speaker and mastering the English language, I also helped the MFWA with diverse translations, particularly to update the French version of their website. As there is still a lack of engagement from francophone media in MFWA activities, I trust my output contributed to improving the French-speaking media’s engagement with the organisation.
Working with a dynamic and caring team of professionals from across the region has been a rewarding experience. My ideas and opinions were always welcomed, I would like to thank the staff for that and also for sharing with me their advice, especially my supervisor, Abigail Larbi Odei.
The Media Foundation for West Africa is effectively contributing to improving the state of the media and promoting the rights to Freedom of Expression in the sub-region. I was very honoured to contribute a quota in achieving these goals during my time there.
Finally, I am now delighted to continue my collaboration with the MFWA from abroad and maintain a close relationship with the vibrant team working there!
By: Juliette Freysson
