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“One challenge we faced is that new mothers don’t have the time to take antenatal classes,” Joy says. “So we decided to put our classes online.As new parents, it’s important to have as much information as possible about pregnancy, labour, and birth. Midwives are instrumental in this, teaching mothers not only how to handle and nurse their babies, but also what to expect as new mothers — services doctors can be too busy to provide.”
“I began my work in the men’s ward and, when I was transferred to the women’s section, I saw that women were suffering from severe conditions, but it wasn’t the conditions themselves at issue, but the culture. Mahlet’s interest in the field stems, in part, from her early work in hospitals in the city and the great gender disparity she witnessed there. The group’s latest work has included organizing pledge drives for cancer patients, distributing flyers about the risk factors associated with breast cancer, and holding the first public discussion in Addis Ababa about sexual harassment in the health sector.
For Samirah, making the most of her time during the COVID-19 pandemic has meant building new skills and improving on her existing ones. To those despairing in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic, Samirah calls for a different posture, one of hope and perseverance. You have to think beyond yourself, to help others succeed, and to understand that every action you take has an effect on those around you. For Samirah, making the most of her time during the COVID-19 pandemic has meant building new skills and improving on her existing ones.
We are inviting Ethiopians to join the fight against COVID-19 by protecting essential frontline responders, instituting safe workplaces through the adoption of WHO guidelines, and engaging medical staff in accurate and timely communications on the disease. Among the myths, Suraphel has heard about the pandemic include that the virus resulted from a laboratory accident. It’s myths like these that sow discord and confusion. It’s up to young leaders, Suraphel explains, to challenge and correct this misinformation.
“My advice to other young leaders organizing in-person or virtual sessions is to plan early and be prepared for setbacks,” Segun says, reflecting on the technical difficulties he faced on the day of his session, among them a power outage. It’s important to give your audience an experience that will spur them to act and to act now,” That sense of urgency is vital, as you only have one chance to make an impact on participants. Segun found over the course of his session and other work with young adults a surprising openness to new perspectives and a willingness to entertain new ideas in a spirit of collaboration.
“In South Sudan, the media plays a pivotal role in enhancing the peace processes and in promoting harmony in the conflict-torn country. It’s disseminated important information about the peace agreements and provided a platform for discussion,” Margaret says. Equipped with accurate information about the state’s peace process, Margaret explains, she and her peers were better able to not only follow national developments but also to raise important questions and voice their concerns in an open forum.
“I strongly believe that the future of media and journalism in Africa is very bright,” Stephen says. “And it will be social and digital tools that will drive development and economic growth. Currently, young people in Africa are looking for opportunities to improve their skills, to reach their full potential, and to transform their communities.”For Stephen, it’s more important than ever that young leaders across the continent take advantage of these new and emerging platforms to share reputable stories and to share them wisely.”
“Journalism is about telling stories,” Djemillah says. “It’s holding a mirror up to society and giving meaning to what we see.”The media plays a very important role in Mauritius. It serves as a balance, a force holding those in power accountable.”Djemillah divides her time between reporting and running a handful of NGOs, all rooted in a commitment to equality and communal development.”
Today Moussa’s work with the Accountability Lab focuses squarely on countering misinformation surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, namely myths about the new coronavirus’s origin and transmission. Some people think Africans are immune to the virus or that it doesn’t spread in warm weather,” Moussa says. He’s making a concerted effort to counter these and other COVID-19 myths. As Moussa sees it, changing minds in Mali hinges on access to reliable information from medical experts.
With stay-at-home orders in place, planning for the future can be especially trying. But it’s that forward-thinking mentality that Honoré Nzambu, a coach, speaker, and teacher in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, said is critical now more than ever. Honoré also recommended Action for Happiness’ Monthly Action Calendars, online tools featuring a daily happiness prompt. Tools and activities like these, Honoré insisted, are key to staying busy and positive in the midst of the pandemic.
