jhr/intMobilizing Media. Changing Lives. | VERSION FRANÇAISE - BIENTÔT DISPONIBLE  
Where jhr works
jhr works mainly in post-conflict countries where human rights abuses are still common. jhr's programs help rebuild local media communities largely destroyed by war and ensure they act as effective vehicles for human rights information now and in the years to come.

  • DRC
  • Sierra Leone
  • Liberia
  • Malawi & Zambia
  • Ghana
jhr in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC)

jhr QUICK FACTS Population: 66,514,504
Life Expectancy: 53.98 years
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: 4.2%
GDP per Capita: $300
Rank in Human Development Index: 168 out of 177 countries
The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) has a long and unfortunate history. Few countries on earth have faced more heartache. More people have died from the effects of war in the DRC (over 5 million people) than from any other conflict since the Second World War.

While a relative peace has returned to much of the country since signing peace accords in 2003, parts of the country—especially Eastern DRC—are still highly volatile. Human rights abuses of all kinds are still commonplace.

Responding to an urgent call for more human rights efforts there, jhr opened an office in the DRC in early 2008, based in the capital city Kinshasa. jhr's work in the DRC is focused on working alongside local journalists, editors, owners and NGOs to facilitate the following activities:
  • Monthly workshop series
  • Workshops with students
  • Small grants program for local NGOs
  • Fellowships for local journalists
  • Yearly Human Rights Reporting Awards
  • Human Rights Reporting Network
While it is still very early into jhr's work in the DRC, we are confident our project will have great success. The potential for Rights Media to play a transformative role in the DRC is enormous — and jhr is proud to be playing its part.


jhr in Sierra Leone

jhr QUICK FACTS Population: 6,294,774
Life Expectancy: 40.93 years
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: 7%
GDP per Capita: $600
Rank in Human Development Index: 177 out of 177 countries
Brought to the worlds attention by the Hollywood movie 'Blood Diamond', the people of Sierra Leone suffered mightily during its decade-long civil war. Following tens of thousands of deaths, the displacement of more than 2 million people (one-third of the population) and innumerable atrocities, including wide-spread rape and the forced recruitment of child soldiers, the war officially ended in 2002.

Since then, Sierra Leone has enjoyed a fragile peace. While the government has been relatively stable, much more needs to be done to strengthen and rebuild the nation's developing democracy. Human rights abuses remain omnipresent—the UNDP ranked it last in the world in the protection of women’s rights.

jhr recognized the potential impact that Rights Media could have in Sierra Leone and began a small pilot project there in 2005. Based on our successes there and feedback from local media and human rights groups, jhr started a full five-year program there in 2007. jhr now works across Sierra Leone and alongside local journalists, editors, owners and NGOs to facilitate the following activities:
  • Formal Workshops
  • Student Workshops
  • Daily on-the-job training
  • Informal Workshops
  • Human Rights Reporting Awards
  • Human Rights Reporting Network
  • Small Grants
  • Journalism Fellowships
jhr is very proud of its successes in spreading human rights across Sierra Leone. To learn more about our impact there, please click here. To read some of the work that jhr trainers have produced in Sierra Leone, please click here. jhr is very proud of the part it is playing in helping to rebuild this wonderful country.

UNDEF logo
jhr in Liberia

jhr QUICK FACTS Population: 3,334,587
Life Expectancy: 41.13 years
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: 5.9%
GDP per Capita: $500
Rank in Human Development Index: unranked
After has a most unique - and tragic - history. Founded by freed American slaves returning to Africa, it was ruled for over a century by an elite class of 'Americo-Liberians' (descendents of the freed slaves). Fed up, native Liberians rebelled, starting a long-string of events that led to a 14 year civil war, devastating the country. Since the official end of war in 2003, Liberia thankfully experienced many positive developments, including the election of Africa's first female Head of State.

Despite some positive developments, the country is still rebuilding and human rights abuses are still commonplace.

jhr responded to calls for improved human rights awareness in Liberia by starting a five-year project there in the fall of 2008. All of our projects in Liberia will be facilitate by the Liberia Media Centre (LMC), a local NGO and jhr's lead partner on the ground. jhr, in partnership with the LMC, is working alongside local journalists, editors, owners and NGOs to facilitate the following activities:
  • Formal Workshops
  • Student Workshops
  • Daily on-the-job training
  • Informal Workshops
  • Human Rights Reporting Awards
  • Train the Trainers
  • Training at Community Radio
  • Human Rights Reporting Network
While it's still early into our project there, jhr is very proud to be working in Liberia. We are confident jhr's project will have a huge impact in ending rights abuses there.
jhr in Malawi and Zambia

jhr QUICK FACTS Malawi
Population: 13,931,831
Life Expectancy: 43.45 years
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: 14.2%
GDP per Capita: $800
Rank in Human Development Index: 164/177

Zambia
Population: 11,669,534
Life Expectancy: 38.59 years
HIV/AIDS Prevalence: 16.5%
GDP per Capita: $1,400
Rank in Human Development Index: 165/177
jhr is currently running a short-term project in Malawi and Zambia, sending young Canadian journalists there on eight month internships as part of a project sponsored by the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA).

jhr measures its impact of this project differently than it measures success in its other, longer-term projects. Here, jhr is focused on the impact on both our local partners and on maximizing the life experience of the interns we send.

Through this project jhr adds values to local media houses, NGO's and development organization by providing them with experienced Canadian interns to lend a helping hand.

While neither Zambia or Malawi are 'post-conflict' countries like many of the others jhr works in, both still have tremendous human rights challenges. jhr's local partners in Malawi and Zambia include:

Malawi:
  • MISA, Media Institute of Southern Africa
  • The Nation
  • The Daily Times
  • Zodiak Broadcasting
Zambia:
  • The Big Issue
  • Panos
  • The Monitor
  • Zamcom
  • The Southern Guardian
  • Breeze FM
  • ZaCoMef
jhr in Ghana

Ghana was jhr's first 5-year program, with activities beginning in 2003 and wrapping up in May 2008.

After several decades of coups and military leadership, Ghana's constitution was adopted in 1992. While the country has long been an example of positive democratic development in West Africa, many challenges remain with regards to local awareness of human rights and social justice.

To help address these issues, jhr worked alongside local journalists, editors, owners and NGOs to facilitate the following activities:
  • Formal Workshops
  • Student Workshops
  • Daily on-the-job training
  • Informal Workshops
  • Human Rights Reporting Awards
  • Train the Trainers
  • Human Rights Reporting Network
jhr handed off many of its programs to local journalism associations and organizations, including the Human Rights Reporting Award, Train-the-Trainers and the Human Rights Reporting Network.
 


Jefferson Sackey
Words Travel. A jhr Success Story.

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CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
Donate Today!
jhr HEAD OFFICE
Communications and PR Intern
Positions:1 - Location: Toronto, Ontario (Head Office)
Posted: August 5, 2010 - Deadline: September 1, 2010

Graphic Designers, Animators and Developers (volunteer)
Location: Toronto
Posted: Feb. 26, 2009 - Deadline: rolling
jhr INTERNATIONAL
Journalism Trainers: Liberia
Positions: 2 - Location: Liberia
Posted: August 10, 2010 - Deadline: August 30, 2010

Workshop Facilitator
Positions: 1 - Location: Liberia
Posted: August 10, 2010 - Deadline: August 30, 2010

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
The jhr newsletter comes complete with stories from the field, upcoming event information, facinating stories, facts and updates!.
CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES
jhr travels to Africa with Editor of the Toronto Star

jhrs International Programs Director Rachel Pulfer recently spent three weeks traveling though Ghana and the Democratic Republic of the Congo with the Editor of the Toronto Star, Michael Cooke. Cooke conducted three workshops in Ghana and four workshops in the DRC on topics such as freedom of the press, investigative journalism and good governance. His workshops were attended by three hundred journalists, journalism students, editors and publishers.

Click here to read Rachel's article.

jhr to send 40 more young Canadians to Africa

In collaboration with the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), jhr will be sending 40 interns to work with and learn from jhr’s media partners in Malawi and Ghana over the next two years. The internship program serves as a way to give Canadian youth work experience in developing countries. The first group of interns depart in early July, with placements in Star Radio, the Daily Times and Capital Radio in Malawi and Critical TV and the Daily Guide in Ghana.

Social Media is transforming jhr! Get involved!

Social media is completely transforming the media landscape and jhr believes that it can be actively used to spread human rights awareness and incite change. We need you to consume, share, and encourage the production of rights media by blogging, tweeting, or sharing on Facebook, stories which have the real potential to change lives. Where and how do you start?

Click here to find out.
FEATURED JOURNALIST
Sarah Bomkapre Kamara
Works for:
Cotton Tree News, Freetown
Country: Sierra Leone
Trained by: Marie-Jo Proulx

Sarah is a radio reporter, producer, and presenter with Cotton Tree News, a project of Fondation Hirondelle, housed in the mass communication department at Fourah Bay College. She is also a regular contributor to the school's Radio Mount Aureol. As part of the jhr fellowship program, she produced a series on the difficulties disabled persons face when trying to access higher education. After she graduates, Sarah would like to work in electronic media as a human rights investigative journalist.
FEATURED jhr CHAPTER
jhr Carleton
City: Ottawa, Ontario
Started: January 2004
Presidents: Zahra Bhumani & Laxmi Parthasarathy
Recent Event(s): 11.15.08. Speak Silence

International Project: Radio Salus, Rwanda

Partnership with community station in Bulare, one of only 12 stations in the country. Works to further integrate Radio Salus with the National University of Rwanda School of Communications and Journalism (NUR-SCJ).