By: Mohamed Sahr
Media Reform Coordinating Group Sierra Leone in partnership with Minority Rights Group International (MRGI) with funding from European Union has held a three days training for journalists and activists on the need of upholding efficient coverage on minority rights, conflicts and migration earlier this week in Bo, the Southern Region.
Dr. Francis Sowa, National Coordinator of MRCG-SL said the three days training focused on raising public awareness on the relevance of shedding light on the challenges and the interconnections between minority groups, conflicts and migration in order to help consolidate sustainable peace in Sierra Leone, Senegal and Ghana.
He mentioned that the retreat focused on educating journalists, activists on mental health and fatigue which deepened their knowledge and appreciation of critical issues relating exclusion and discrimination against minorities as well as indigenous communities.
“MRCG and its partners recognize the need for the participants to have this national retreat to help promote minority rights problems and addressing the psychological impacts on mentalities over the period,” Dr. Sowa said.
Minority Rights Groups International (MRGI) with partners like Minority Rights Group Africa (MRGA) based in Uganda, MRCG in Sierra Leone, MPEC in Ghana and Fahamu in Senegal similarly staged same programme across the West Africa Gulf in an effort of sharpening the skills and experience of both journalists and activists towards changing the narrative on reporting the underlining issues faced by minorities and indigenous communities.
Dr. Victor Massaquoi, who doubled as Communication, Social and Governance Experts and one of the facilitators said there were leaps of functions of minorities particularly in disadvantage communities in Sierra Leone. Dr. Massaquoi cited his session on a number of things ranging from questioning minority issues, minority right issues, behavior of human trust among others.
Patricia Sia Ngevao, Journalist of Awoko Newspaper said the three days retreat enhanced both her psychological make-up and skill to better tell the stories of minorities and indigenous communities particularly when carrying her work.
Henry Hopanda Jabaty, Programs Officer for Campaign for Good Governance (CGG) said the training amplified him more in targeting minority rights group and indigenous communities by sharing their different views with strong sense of empathy and professionalism.
