SHELBURNE, Vt., Jan. 15, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- For the first time, US-based Population Media Center has teamed up with Global Health Corps to offer two year-long paid fellowships in Burundi, one available to a US citizen and one available to a Burundi citizen. This opportunity coincides with the launch of a new radio soap opera produced by Population Media Center's Burundi office addressing women and children's health. The organizations are seeking passionate young professionals who are committed to global health and social justice to fill two positions starting in July 2014. The deadline for applying is in January 2014.
"We've never done this before," says Kriss Barker, Population Media Center's VP of International Programs. "It's really exciting and different. We are looking for two great fellows, both of whom must be fluent in French since our Burundi office is entirely French-speaking."
The radio drama, "Agashi" ("Hey! Look Again!"), addresses issues such as child nutrition and family planning through intriguing storylines and plot twists. Over the course of the episodes, characters demonstrate choices and consequences, learning from their actions and teaching listeners as well. "Agashi" will run for approximately two years, airing two episodes per week.
The Global Health Corps fellows will be an integral part of the Burundi office, helping with two large projects: program promotion and program research. Program promotion will include items such as publicity and events to generate awareness and encourage active engagement by the community. Program research will include items such as leading focus groups, analyzing listener responses, and helping inform writers with key information to influence storylines and plot development. Global Health Corps will provide a variety of additional trainings and professional development opportunities, as well as a completion award and life-long access to a network of globally-minded change-makers.
Global Health Corps mission is to mobilize a global community of emerging leaders to work for health equity. This commitment to health as a human right aligns perfectly with Population Media Center's efforts to address population stabilization through four pillars: improving human health, human rights, economic equality, and environmental protection. "This program promises to be an exciting one," says Barker. "We're thrilled that our work will get more young people involved in addressing these issues."
"These positions at PMC will offer fellows an opportunity to contribute meaningfully to the improvement of life conditions in Burundi, and to increase their skills and knowledge by working with dedicated managers and mentors at PMC," says Jean Bosco Ndayishimiye, PMC's Country Representative. "My dream is that this innovative program in Burundi will generate significant positive results, causing behavior change in Burundian society."
"We are so excited to partner with Population Media Center on this project," says Jean Marie Karikurubu, the Burundi Program Manager at Global Health Corps. "Their mission and their communications strategies have been shown to be very effective and we're excited to offer fellows the opportunity to get involved in this project."
All applicants must be 30 years or younger, have earned an undergraduate university degree by July 2014, and be proficient in English and French. For more information, visit: http://ghcorps.org/placements/b03-usa-program-coordinator-population-media-center-burundi/
ABOUT POPULATION MEDIA CENTER (PMC):
Population Media Center is a nonprofit, international nongovernmental organization, which strives to improve the health and well-being of people around the world through the use of entertainment-education strategies, like serialized dramas on radio and television, in which characters evolve into role models for the audience for positive behavior change. Founded in 1998, PMC has over 15 years of field experience using the Sabido methodology of behavior change communications, impacting more than 50 countries around the world. www.populationmedia.org
ABOUT GLOBAL HEALTH CORPS (GHC):
Global Health Corps mobilizes a global community of emerging leaders to build the movement for health equity. GHC believes young people are the future to solving global health challenges. We place recent college graduates and young professionals from diverse professional backgrounds in health non-profits and government offices in the US, East Africa and Southern Africa for a year of service in order to strengthen and learn from the organizations. Fellows focus on creating solutions for a variety of current health issues like HIV, maternal child health, nutrition, and healthcare access. Through additional training, community building, leadership development and mentorship these young people complete their fellowship with skills to be change-makers and paradigm-shifters in the global health field throughout their careers. Since its founding in 2009, GHC has deployed 322 fellows to work in 7 countries.
Photos accompanying this release are available at:
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=23068
http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=23069
