World Pulse is seeking French-speaking volunteers for our Ending Violence Against Women Digital Action Campaign to support the rising voices and leadership of grassroots women leaders in the Eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.
With an online, global community of grassroots women leaders, World Pulse has developed a methodology to rally their voices around the issues that they say matter most. Our digital action campaigns elicit powerful content from women on the ground, strengthen their confidence, and ensure that influencers and powerful institutions hear their stories. World Pulse will channel their stories to media, advocacy partners, and key international forums to ensure their stories are heard widely.
Although we will collect stories from women globally, the campaign will have a regional sub-focus in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Widely known as one of the worst regions for women, DRC is also one of the most silenced due to the lack of communications infrastructure. Our Congolese correspondent will lead a series of digital media literacy trainings this July in Bukavu, DRC to cultivate the leadership of 15 women in her community to serve as Campaign Leaders. Together these women will support the participation of 150 Congolese women to navigate new media, learn basic citizen journalism skills, and self-publish personal testimonies declaring their visions for a new, peaceful Congo with women at the helm.
Volunteer Description: World Pulse needs volunteers to act as Editorial Midwives to support these 15 Campaign Leaders and their cohorts as they navigate our citizen journalism curriculum and social media platform. Each Editorial Midwife will be partnered with one or two Campaign Leaders. Your role will be to support, guide and empower: You will act as a nurturing editor to help your Campaign Leader find her empowered voice, learn the basics of citizen journalism and discover how new media can be used for positive social change—so that she can in-turn lead her cohort of 10. As an Editorial Midwife, you will journey alongside these women to the frontiers of new media and women’s empowerment in a region often described of as the worst place on earth to be a woman.
Volunteer Commitments: Frequent and reliable access to the Internet; Dedication to the entire three-month program from July through September 2012; Participation in one of two training sessions to acquaint you with the program and your role: June 26 or June 27 (stay tuned for details on specific call times); Devotion of 2-3 hours every week to working one-on-one with your Campaign Leader(s), providing feedback on curriculum questions and writing guidelines, and providing supportive and encouraging comments and edits for entire cohort (Communication will be primarily conducted via email, Skype, online chat, etc); At least one introductory phone call (via Skype or landline) to introduce yourself to your Campaign Leader and outline a plan of action and communication for the following 3 months.
*Please note that to participate as an Editorial Midwife you will be required to join PulseWire, our online newswire and social networking site, to enable you to interact with your Correspondent and our wider global network of women. Go to http://www.worldpulse.com/user/register to register today.
Qualifications: Excellent command of both written and oral French and English; Knowledge of basic journalism skills; excitement for social/new media a plus; Ability to craft succinct and encouraging comments; Willingness to be an open, insightful and supportive member of our global network; Flexibility and patience!
Benefits: The deep and soulful satisfaction of knowing you are participating in a program that will be life-changing for the women you will help support, as well as for yourself as you read and react to their inspiring stories. Also, the amazing opportunity to connect with women from the Democratic Republic of Congo, exchange ideas and laughter together and become friends. Gretchen Lee, an Editorial Midwife since 2009, wrote:
“As a Midwife, I was often overwhelmed with emotion while reading these women’s stories—it became so important to me to be kind, genuine and supportive to my new friends from Africa and Nepal. I would actually imagine my hand reaching out and holding their hand as they bravely went forward expanding their own lives in such a valuable way. Throughout the program, it became crystal clear that the entire World Pulse community was on fire with a genuine outpouring of support, admiration and love for each other. It was a watershed experience of empowerment. It was incredible!”
Contact: If you are interested in becoming an Editorial Midwife, please fill out a short application, or if you have questions please email Scott Beck at scott@worldpulse.com