Have you always wanted to be a published writer or photographer?
The Blue Peace Central Asia initiative is looking for writers and photographers to tell the world how turning competition over water into opportunities for collaboration, can lead to peaceful and sustainable societies.
We are giving young writers and photographers the opportunity to tell stories from the region about the importance of water to peace and sustainability. There are many examples across the five Central Asian nations – from farmers that depend on water downstream, to upstream industries and townspeople that might look towards hydropower for a more sustainable future. For any such hopes and dreams to be realized in a peaceful future for all, there needs to be a new thinking about the role of water in enabling regional development in stability.
Do you know about a story that personifies these issues? If so, we would like to give you the opportunity to publish this story, and tell the world about it.
The Blue Peace Central Asia initiative will assist budding writers and photographers to produce feature articles with photos for publication.
Students whose proposals are selected will receive training on journalism, writing and photography from international photojournalist and blogger Petro Kotze. Petro has been working in the media industry for over a decade. Her experience includes positions as journalist, photographer and editor in various newspaper and magazine offices; as freelance photojournalist, blogger, communications manager and consultant. Petro specializes in conservation and freshwater issues. She has written extensively from southern Africa, Europe, Central Asia and Southeast Asia. Among other publications, she writes for the Reuters Foundation and the Earth Island Journal. Her portfolio of work includes two books for South Africa’s Water Research Commission, and she is the creative writer for the USAID funded Smart Waters project. Her blog, www.50liters.com shares lessons from places that suffer from drought.
Selected students will have the opportunity to attend two online webinars presented by Petro. One will cover story preparation, interviewing and photography skills and a second, writing skills. Each small group interaction will also allow time for questions and feedback. Except for the personalized training, Petro will review the selected students’ stories and photos and provide written feedback on their work.
Final stories and photos will be published with the students’ bylines. We will accept two story proposals. Each proposal can be submitted by two students (one writer, one photographer).
To be considered for the opportunity, please send us your story proposal, in less than 200 words, to , [email protected] and . Your proposal must include “BPCA story pitch” as the subject of the email. The deadline for submissions is 18 September 2020. The following must be included in your pitch, for consideration:
- An overview of your suggested story in five or less sentences;
- An explanation of how this topic shows that collaboration over water leads to peaceful and sustainable societies;
- A description of who the main character will be that you will interview, that will portray how a change in mindset has led to positive results;
- Suggestions of what images you could produce with the story.
We look forward to hearing from you!
Blue Peace Central Asia team