Summary of project status and achievements:
Journal staff met with PM Sara on 14 November and received copies of the 27th and final edition. From 16 November through 20 November, they distributed 258 French copies and 154 Swahili copies of the Journal to the Mwange community.
Journal staff also began the new model for the project. They set up a blackboard near the market and wrote daily news updates on it, along the lines of what we have been told is done in Moba Kirungu. This has been successful, and the staff asked if they could receive materials to continue after FORGE leaves. The COC gave them the remaining budget for the project and they bought chalk, paper and pens, providing a receipt to the COC.
Indicators and Statistics:
Included in the spreadsheet.
Future goals:
The staff expressed enthusiasm about continuing to write daily new updates on the blackboard until the camp ceases to exist or they repatriate.
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Expense monitor to follow.
By Nick ReeseSummary of project status and achievements:
Journal reporters and editors continued to work together in collaboration to report, edit and compile articles for the 26th edition of Journal Mwange during the beginning of October. The edition was translated into French, Swahili and English and ready for publication by 11 October, on which day the PM traveled to Kasama for photocopying. Due to some complications at the photocopying center as well as the length of the Journal, which was again 8 pages long instead of the agreed-upon 6, only 150 copies of the Journal were produced this month. The photocopying was completed on 12 October, and the photocopies were brought to Mwange for distribution on 13 October. Distribution itself took place over the course of three days, from 14 to 16 October. This edition of the Journal included articles on, among other topics, the DAFI scholarship in Mwange, September’s visit from a Pretoria delegation to Mwange, and violence in Somalia.
Journal reporters then began work on the 27th edition of the Journal, which had been scheduled for publication in late October/early November. Due to changes in this plan necessitated by the early closure of the computer lab, however, the PM met with Journal staff on 23 October and asked them to complete an early, shorter version of the Journal by 25 October. The staff worked diligently to compile a 6-page edition of the Journal by that date. This will be the last printed edition of Journal Mwange published by FORGE in Mwange Refugee Camp.
Although the 27th edition of the Journal has been completed, it has not yet been photocopied and distributed. Due to the high cost and low quality of photocopies in Kawambwa, the departing Mwange PM and the COC brought the final edition of the Journal to Lusaka for photocopying. The photocopies will then be sent to Kawambwa with the Lusaka-Kawambwa bus, where the Kala PM will be able to collect them. She will then carry the photocopies to Mwange during the middle of November and deliver them to the Journal staff, who will distribute the final edition to the community. Because of the early closure of the Journal, enough money remained in the budget to produce 500 copies of this final edition.
The Mwange and Kala PMs and the COC met with the three remaining Journal Mwange staff on 31 October to discuss plans for continuing the Journal’s work of information dissemination in Mwange Camp during the month of November despite the lack of access to computers. After some discussion among themselves, the staff proposed that they provide information to the community through handwritten news updates and articles posted on a chalkboard at the Mwange market. This solution offers a way for the Journal staff to accomplish their main objective simply and with few inputs. This solution should also be accepted by the community, as a similar type of journalism has also been practiced in Moba Kirungu.
Indicators and Statistics:
Included in the spreadsheet. Indicators are only available for the 26th edition.
Future goals:
The Kala PM and the COC will just need to check in with the Journal staff to learn about the success of the operational model practiced during November.
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
By Laura MessengerSummary of project status and achievements:
The 25th edition of Journal Mwange, written and compiled during August, was the last edition published under the leadership of head editor Michel Malawa, who replaced Katele Esperanc as manager of Journal Mwange in November 2008. This edition of the journal was photocopied in Kasama by the project manager on September 2nd, and the copies were collected there by the Mwange World Vision education coordinator the next day and delivered to the camp on Monday the following week. The Journal was then distributed to the community on the following day, 8 September. Demographic information for this distribution was included in the August indicators submitted previously.
When the PM returned from leave in September, she met with the Journal staff to discuss options for the Journal’s program through the end of November. The staff expressed a determination to continue to follow the previous program, as desired by the community expressed through the committee, and came up with a plan for how to continue monthly publication without the head editor. The three reporters and editors plan to work together to put together the journal, and one of the reporters will be responsible for reporting to the PM about progress. Three more publications are planned: one for the middle of October, one for the end of October/beginning of November, and a final edition to be published before the end of November.
With this plan established, the three Journal employees worked to research and write articles and began compiling them in the computer for the remainder of September.
Indicators and Statistics:
As no new edition of the Journal was produced during September, there are no indicators to report this month.
Future goals:
The PM wants to discuss plans for the final issue with Journal staff to see if there are any special steps that should be taken to conclude the Journal.
Substantial problems or issues:
None.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
By Laura MessengerSummary of project status and achievements:
The 24th edition of Journal Mwange was distributed on 11-12 August, and statistics for this distribution were included in the July indicators spreadsheet.
During August, the Journal employees worked quickly to prepare a 6-page edition of the Journal for publication at the beginning of September. Articles covered local news such as the results of the secondary school completion exams and the camp celebration of World Education Day, as well as political and economic news from the DRC and international news such as Hilary Clinton’s trip to Africa. All articles were finished by 28 August, and the PM and the Journal editor translated these articles into English on 29 August. Finished French, Swahili and English editions were printed on 31 August, and the PM took the completed editions with her to Kasama for photocopying before she left for Lusaka. The copies were picked up by World Vision’s education coordinator in Kasama the next day, and reached Mwange on 7 September. The 25th edition was then distributed on 8 September.
The Journal Mwange head editor decided to end his contract at the end of August and has left Mwange. Although the PM knew that his departure was a possibility, she did not know that he was planning to leave so soon. As there was little notice given between his resignation and the PM’s departure for the US, she asked the remaining employees to pause all activities until her return, at which point the PM and the employees would meet to discuss how the Journal can continue through the end of November.
Indicators and Statistics:
Indicators and statistics for the 25th edition are included in the indicators spreadsheet.
Future goals:
The PM continues to work together with Journal staff to develop a plan for the Journal’s activities during September, October and November.
Substantial problems or issues:
The Journal has no head editor at the moment. However, as explained above, the PM is working with staff to develop an action plan to move forward.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
By Laura MessengerSummary of project status and achievements:
The 23rd edition of Journal Mwange was distributed on 9-10 July, and statistics for this distribution were included in the June indicators spreadsheet. The brief Journal survey was conducted at this time.
Journal reporters then worked hard to report on events within the camp such as a fire at the camp education office and the VCT day celebration in hopes of producing a short issue that the PM could photocopy in Kasama on 19 July. However, as the head editor became ill on 15 July, this was not possible. The head editor and reporters worked together until the third week of July, when the head editor, traveling to Kasama for personal reasons, was in a vehicle accident and nearly died. This delayed his return from Kasama, as he spent a week recovering there. In the meantime, the reporters did a great job working alone and even practiced their typing skills. Thanks to their efforts as well as the efforts of the head editor, who returned to work as soon as he was back in Mwange despite his visibly still poor health, a six-page edition of the Journal was ready for publication on 7 August. The PM brought the Journal to Kasama for photocopying on 9 August, and distribution was conducted from 11-12 August, with a slight delay due to a funeral in the camp on 11 August attended by Journal staff. Statistics for this distribution are included in the July indicators.
Indicators and Statistics:
Indicators and statistics for the 24th edition are included in the indicators spreadsheet.
Future goals:
The PM will work together with Journal staff and members of the community as represented by the committee to determine the future of the Journal.
Substantial problems or issues:
The head editor of the Journal is just waiting for permission from the RO to shift from Mwange to Kala. If he receives permission to move camps, the PM will solicit suggestions from the other Journal staff and the committee concerning the future viability of the Journal.
Also, the digital camera used by Journal Mwange is in poor condition. Sometimes it works; other times it fails to open or to turn on. As a result of the camera’s unreliable performance, journalists sometimes miss opportunities to photograph events in the camp.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
By Laura MessengerSummary of project status and achievements:
The 22nd edition of Journal Mwange was distributed on 7 June, and statistics for this distribution were included in the May indicators spreadsheet.
The 22nd edition, at a length of 6 pages instead of the usual 8, was well received by community members who appreciated the increase in the number of copies available. The journal editors and reporters planned for the length of the 23rd edition to be 6 pages as well. However, due to many events in the camp during June, the reporters and editors prepared 17 articles for the 23rd edition. The head editor could not fit 17 articles onto 6 pages, so the 23rd edition was 8 pages long.
The articles were translated into English on 4 July, and the PM traveled to Kasama to photocopy the journal on 7 July. The journal was distributed on 9-10 July, and the quick distribution survey was conducted at this time. The feedback was generally positive, and the head editor collected article topic suggestions that will be taken into consideration for subsequent editions of the Journal. Also, during the survey it was discovered that many community members refuse to share their editions of the Journal with others, despite requests, because they keep and collect all editions of the Journal and fear that if they lend their Journal to someone else to read, it will not be returned. Therefore the Journal employees are going to continue to sensitize community members that the Journal is also available at the library.
Indicators and Statistics:
Indicators and statistics for the 23nd edition are included in the indicators spreadsheet.
Future goals:
The PM is trying to get the Journal staff to commit to a publication schedule through the end of November, in order to ensure that the Journal can come out regularly despite her upcoming periods of absence from the camp. The PM is also trying to increase collaboration between the Journal and the library- she would like to see if Journal staff members would be willing to host radio-listening and news discussion sessions at the library.
Substantial problems or issues:
The head editor of the Journal is considering shifting from Mwange to Kala. If he decides to do this, his vacancy will be extremely difficult to fill, as he is one of the few members of Mwange who is familiar with Microsoft Publisher, the program used to produce the Journal. Even when Katele Esperanc was the head editor of the Journal, the current head editor Michel Malawa played a significant role in the typing and compiling of the Journal. If Malawa does go to Kala, finding a replacement head editor for the FORGE’s remaining months in Mwange could be problematic. The few other remaining individuals in Mwange who are fluent with computers are already employed, either by FORGE or by World Vision, and would most likely not have sufficient time to edit the Journal. If Malawa does shift, the PM would consider ending the Journal early to be one of the most realistic options, but she would appreciate input and feedback on this issue.
Wishes or request:
None.
Budget status:
Included in the expense monitor.
By Laura Messenger
Comments on this project
show allQuestions on this project
show all