SFCG Studio Ijambo Wins Big in Burundi

Jean Paul Nicondindiriye and Daniella Niteka, with the Representative of OHCHR in Burundi.

The efforts of SFCG’s Studio Ijambo to promote reconciliation, dialogue, and cooperation through high-quality radio programs were widely recognized in Burundi over the past year. In 2010, SFCG’s journalists received four awards in the field of election coverage, human rights, and refugee issues, presented by national and international institutions, such as the Burundian Press House, the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) in Burundi, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).

SFCG award-winning journalist Jean Paul Nicondindiriye (right), presenting Ntorere Kazoza.

The program Ntorere Kazoza (I Vote for the Future), produced by Studio Ijambo, received the PACAM (Common Action Plan to Support the Media) Award for the best media production covering the 2010 Burundian election. This 45-minute magazine was honored for its efforts to inform the population on the different steps of the electoral process and to promote a peaceful electoral environment. The program was also successful in giving a voice to women leaders, encouraging them to play an active role within Burundian society.

Daniella Niketa, covering a story in the Northern part of the country.

On December 10, Human Rights Day, two journalists of Studio Ijambo were also recognized for their high-quality work promoting human rights in Burundi. Daniella Niteka and Jean Paul Nicondindiriye were respectively awarded the first and second prizes for two episodes of the radio program Isanganiro ry’urwaruka (Youth Meeting Point), addressing the issue of rape and impunity. By focusing on the importance of registering a complaint for rape victims, but also on the challenges that they face in this process and potential solutions, the two programs contributed to the fight against rape in Burundi.

Jean Paul Nicondindiriye, gathering information in Bujumbura.

Finally, SFCG won the 2010 UNHCR Award for the best radio production covering issues related to refugees in Burundi. SFCG’s journalist Charles Ndayisenga, promoted a peaceful approach to the question of refugee return to Burundi and the situation of asylum seekers in Burundi through the program Icibare Cacu (Our Land).

SFCG launched Studio Ijambo in 1995, at the height of ethnic and political violence in Burundi. Since then, SFCG has sought to strengthen the capacities of all segments of Burundian society to manage their conflicts collaboratively, promote dialogue within diversity, and facilitate coexistence and reconciliation. Studio Ijambo is now a well-established radio-production studio, known for its high-quality media productions covering a wide range of issues. The studio is committed to sharing its expertise and contributes to capacity-building of Burundian journalists by regularly training communication students in conflict-sensitive journalism.

We congratulate the Studio Ijambo Team for their excellent work!

Find out more about the exciting work we’re doing in Burundi.