I’m Heading to Ethiopia as an International Reporting Fellow

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I have very exciting news! I am honored to announce that I will be one of nine new media journalists heading with The International Reporting Project to Ethiopia in June to report on newborn health. The announcement was made yesterday and I can hardly wait to start researching and learning all I can about Ethiopia.

The International Reporting Project (IRP) is based at The Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) of the John Hopkins University and the primary goal of the IRP is to provide journalists with the opportunity to report internationally on issues not traditionally covered in mainstream media.

The program was created in 1998, making it a pioneer in the “nonprofit journalism” movement that seeks to fill the gap left by much of the mainstream media’s reduction of international news. The IRP has provided opportunities to more than 400 journalists to report from more than 100 countries and produce award-winning stories

I will be one of nine new media journalist fellows heading for a two-week trip to Ethiopia to report on Ethiopia’s efforts to prevent newborn deaths as well as provide an overview of maternal and child health, immunizations, nutrition, communicable diseases, and health care provision, among other topics.

Photo credit: IRP/Achilli Family

Photo credit: IRP/Achilli Family

One of the areas that I am most excited to learn about is how Ethiopia, one of the poorest countries in Africa, has stunned the world community by achieving Millennium Development Goal number #4 reducing the mortality rates of children under age 5 by two-thirds well ahead of the 2015 deadline.

In a country in which 95% of the population lives outside of an urban center in rural, remote and hard to reach areas and a shocking 90% of women birth at home without a midwife, Frontline Health Care Workers (FHCW) have been the key ingredient to Ethiopia’s success. I am really excited to meet some of these workers and mothers and share their stories. I am sure it will be a life-changing experience.

While in Ethiopia, I will examine Ethiopia’s political, historical, socio-economical and cultural dynamics to report on this misunderstood country, setting the stage to shed light on the massive effort introduced by the Ethiopian government to achieve MDG4 and what the impact has been on other critical areas such as newborn and maternal health, poverty, and other Millennium Development Goals.

Dessie Referral Hospital in Afar region, Ethiopia
Copyright: Michael Tsegaye/Save the Children

As one of the most diverse populations in the world with over 83 distinct languages and 200 dialects, Ethiopia shares a unique history, society, culture, environment, economy and governance that is unlike her neighbors.  I am honored to be selected to go as a reporting fellow to Ethiopia and share my knowledge with you all in the coming months.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

39 thoughts on “I’m Heading to Ethiopia as an International Reporting Fellow”

  1. Kerry Ascione – Past business and IT professional turned travel writer, blogger, speaker and coach. Huge supporter of the Peer Sharing Movement, especially as it relates to making the lives of families richer in culture and travel. Author of Have Home Will Travel, The Ultimate International Home Exchange Guide for Families.
    Kerry Ascione on said:

    That is such wonderful news. I am so excited for you. Congratulations!

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Kerry!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Kerry! I’m excited!

      Reply ↓

  2. congratulations and good luck! i’m online for a short time and am glad i saw this. haven’t checked to see if you get otto’s posts – surely you do – about the famine and predicted disaster… i am hopeful that you’re able to make a difference and help these people in desperation.

    z

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Lisa! I am so excited about this opportunity!!!!

      Reply ↓
  3. thetantalk – South Korea – Hello there, This is Kohinoor. I am an amateur fashion enthusiast trying to understand and explain the multi layered zone of the fashion culture in my tone. Having born and bread in India, I have the connection to diversity, contradiction and drama that has been running through our culture. A commoner looking for an Uncommon outlook - Kohinoor
    TheTanTalk on said:

    Congratulations on your new project ! Will look forward to hear from you

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you!!!

      Reply ↓
  4. jaime perez – Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela – Born and stablished in Maracay, Venezuela, I´m a teacher and a passionate about photography. The idea of this blog is to share my vision of the world trough my pictures as welll as enjoying the views of the rest of the Wordpress comunity. Feel free to take a look and coment any post in my blogs; I'll appreciate it and I´ll take your feedback into consideration.
    jaime perez on said:

    Oh, wow, good for you Nicole, congratulations! Such a wonderful exprerience. I’m looking forward to see your reports.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jaime! I appreciate your continued support!

      Reply ↓
      • jaime perez – Maracay, Estado Aragua, Venezuela – Born and stablished in Maracay, Venezuela, I´m a teacher and a passionate about photography. The idea of this blog is to share my vision of the world trough my pictures as welll as enjoying the views of the rest of the Wordpress comunity. Feel free to take a look and coment any post in my blogs; I'll appreciate it and I´ll take your feedback into consideration.
        jaime perez on said:

        It’s a true pleashure for me to enjoy such a genuine and delicately-developed blog as yours Nicole. My best wishes and success for you!

      • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
        thirdeyemom on said:

        Oh thanks so much Jaime!

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thank you Sally! I am very very excited about this opportunity! 🙂

      Reply ↓
  6. Meghan Johnson – I currently work in sustainable investing in commercial real estate. Interested in impact investing, sustainability, writing, feminism, travel, finance, altruism, economics, and running.
    Meghan Johnson on said:

    So happy for you Nicole! Can’t wait to read all about it in June.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Meghan!!!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you so much!

      Reply ↓

  8. Congratulations, Nicole, what a great honour! Have an amazing and interesting time in Ethiopia! I am also looking forward to read about the experiences you will be going to make over there.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Vanessa! I am very excited about this trip!

      Reply ↓
  9. Jan – Tenerife – I am semi-retired, and spend a lot of my time surfing the net, Hobbies include Reiki, Yoga, Pilates, Alternative remedies, swimming,cooking, reading and just love researching for new ideas etc.
    Jan on said:

    Congratulations, I bet you are excited what a challenge.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thank you! Yes I am!

      Reply ↓
  10. Sue Slaght – Calgary, Alberta Canada – www.traveltalesoflife.com Many years from now, when I am an old lady sitting in the nursing home, I hope to be the twinkly eyed resident still entertaining anyone who I can corner to listen, about all of the wild adventures attempted in a lifetime. Well into the second half of the game of life there is no time like the present to get out there, live big and laugh a lot. Living in Calgary, Alberta, married to my best friend Dave for over thirty years and Mom to adult children; my decades as a nurse have shown that in a moment life can change completely. Passionate about social justice, volunteerism and not letting the phrase “What would people think?” or my own fear get in the way of trying something new; the possibilities are endless. Enjoy the tales and I hope you will be inspired to try something you have been thinking about doing.
    sueslaght on said:

    Congratulations!

    Reply ↓
  11. LuAnn – Two young-at-heart retirees with a passion for exploring and the desire to "pay it forward".
    LuAnn on said:

    They could not have chosen a better woman for the job. Congratulations Nicole! 🙂

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Oh thanks LuAnn! Your words really truly made me smile!!!! 🙂

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Len! Hope you and Kirsten are doing well! I’m excited for this new opportunity!

      Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Debra! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  14. SO exciting for you, Nicole — I’m swimming in envy and can’t wait to read your posts from Ethiopia!! Mazel tov!!!!

    Reply ↓
  17. Jo Bryant – New Zealand – I was born in the land of Banjo Paterson, gum trees, and weather extremes. I am a freelance photographer. I love to make images that make people happy. To capture forever a precious moment. I am also a freelance writer/editor. I live in the Bay of Plenty, New Zealand, but still like to claim my Australian heritage. I graduated with a Bachelor of Communications in 2008. I am writing my first novel. I love to write poetry, short stories, and also write for the web. And there is nothing that is on a par with a sunny summer's day spent at Waihi Beach.
    Jo Bryant on said:

    Congratulations Nicole…can’t wait to hear about it

    Reply ↓
  18. anotherjennifer – Brunswick, Maine – Jennifer Iacovelli is an author, blogger and nonprofit unicorn. Based in Brunswick, Maine, she’s a proud single mom of two boys and two Siberian huskies. Her books include The Mother Of All Meltdowns and Simple Giving: Easy Ways to Give Every Day. Her work has been featured on HuffPost Divorce, Maria Shriver, GOOD, BlogHer, ONE, USAID Impact, Feed the Future, PSI Impact blog and more. Her passions are writing, philanthropy, her awesome kids, bacon and lifting heavy objects, though not necessarily in that order.
    anotherjennifer on said:

    So excited for you, Nicole! I cannot wait to follow along and hear about what you learn.

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks Jennifer! 🙂

      Reply ↓

  19. What an incredible opportunity, Nicole. I’m jealous, but SO, SO HAPPY for YOU! Congratulations, my friend!

    Hugs from Ecuador,
    Kathy

    Reply ↓
    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      Thanks so much Kathy!!! These trips are open to any new media blogger or journalist. All you need to do is apply!!!

      Reply ↓

  20. Pingback: Ethiopia Bound | Thirdeyemom

    • thirdeyemom – Writer, traveler, hiker and global humanitarian traveling the world and doing good. Member of Impact Travel Alliance Media Network. 40+ countries and still wandering sharing my journey along the way.
      thirdeyemom on said:

      You’re welcome! I’m really enjoying my time in Ethiopia. I have one week more and have loved the people here and it is a very beautiful place.

      Reply ↓

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