Marie Stopes International: Winners of the Guardian Development Journalism Competition and the inaugural Guardian Achievements in International Development Award Announced

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Friday, 20, Nov 2009 12:00

The second annual Guardian Development Journalism Competition and the inaugural Guardian Achievements in International Development Award, both of which are sponsored by Marie Stopes International (MSI), were held at the prestigious Royal Academy in London’s Piccadilly yesterday evening.

The Guardian Development Journalism Competition, which is funded by the Department for International Development and Glaxo Smith Kline, encourages amateur and professional journalists to write about development issues through a competition format which attracted hundreds of entrants this year. Sixteen finalists – eight amateurs, eight professionals – were then given assignments in the field to write on various aspects of development, guided by a consortium of eight international NGOs led by MSI. The finalists’ articles are published in two special supplements in consecutive editions of The Guardian, on Saturday 21st and Monday 23rd November.

This year’s articles included maternal mortality in Nepal, deforestation in Tanzania, HIV in Lesotho and the plight of girl soldiers in Uganda returning home after conflict. Other countries visited by finalists in pursuit of stories included India, Bangladesh, Jamaica, Kyrgystan and Cambodia. Alongside MSI, the NGO consortium this year consisted of British Red Cross, Amref UK, Farm-Africa, Find Your Feet, International Childcare Trust, One World Action and Panos London.

Speaking at the awards ceremony MSI Chief Executive Dana Hovig said: “Typically, when British people read about developing countries in newspapers they read about catastrophe and despair – war, civil unrest, famine, natural disaster and environmental meltdown. They rarely get to read about all the positive and valuable work being done to alleviate global poverty, to improve lives and strengthen societies.

“As a result development workers toil in anonymity. Development success stories aren’t told. Yet it is important that these stories are told, and this competition provides a great mechanism for that. Stories create connections and shrink the world reminding us that we are all one. And through such connections, we can motivate and inspire individuals to make a difference – to their own communities and to communities and countries around the world.”

The overall winner in the amateur category was Nash Colundalur, who wrote about the devastating impact of drought in northern Kenya, whilst the professional winner, Preeti Jha wrote about how climate change is affecting pastoralist communities in the same region of Africa.

The winner of the inaugural Guardian Achievements in International Development award was chosen by the public, who voted on a shortlist of five candidates. The winner of the award is Maggy Barankitse, who was nominated by ActionAid. Maggy runs Maison Shalom – or House of Peace, a home for children orphaned by conflict and HIV/Aids in the small town of Ruyigi, Burundi. Barankitse began adopting orphaned children in her early 20’s. Since then she has helped over 30,000 children and families, including many orphaned or wounded in the massacres of the Burundian civil war or the genocide in Rwanda. Barankitse is dedicated to meeting the emotional needs of the children, including tracing their relatives, and is also concerned with assisting their physical healing, helping those maimed and wounded to access healthcare and reconstructive surgery. Her safe-house has grown in scale, and the project now includes farms to provide food for the children, training in mechanics or computer literacy for ex-combatants, and a crèche.

"The Guardian is delighted that with this new award, we can share these outstanding local success stories with our global audience" commented Elisabeth Ribbans, managing editor of the Guardian. For further information on the achievements awards and Barankitse’s Maison Shalom, please visit: www.guardian.co.uk/achievementsaward

For further information please contact the Marie Stopes International Press Team:

Tony Kerridge - Senior Communications Manager (Press and Public Affairs)

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7034 2365 / (0)7748 948037

Emily James

– Deputy Manager, UK Press and Public Affairs

Telephone: +44 (0)20 7034 2307

Notes to editors:

MSI is an international social enterprise providing expert care and support to over six million couples in 43 countries in relation to their sexual and reproductive healthcare. This includes advice, information and services related to family planning, unplanned pregnancy, sexually transmitted infections and emergency contraception. For further information, visit www.mariestopes.org