Journalism - Senegal

Product Details

Journalism volunteers in Senegal are based in the city of St. Louis, four hours north of the capital Dakar. All placements are in radio stations where volunteers have the opportunity to be actively involved in researching stories, delivering them on air if their French is strong enough and also learning about the technical side of radio journalism.

At all radio stations volunteers could be involved in the following tasks: researching, writing and presenting news bulletins; helping with studio production; co-presenting music and entertainment programmes. Sometimes volunteers have the opportunity to cover football matches, conferences or religious/national celebrations which usually take place at the weekends. The permanent staff at the radio stations are keen for volunteers to broadcast, providing their French is of a high enough standard. However, this is not obligatory and if preferred, volunteers can focus their attention on behind-the-scenes tasks.

The stations produce a wide range of programmes such as music, current affairs, religious and sport programmes and even phone-ins. Being involved in these is a fun and interesting way to increase your knowledge of Senegalese life and culture.

These projects offer you a fantastic opportunity to gain experience of radio journalism, while simultaneously improving your French skills, not to mention your CV!

All volunteers are allocated a supervisor within their placement and also have the backup of our staff in the local office and the UK office. Accommodation is with local ‘host’ families; as well as providing support, advice and an insight into Senegalese family life, host families also provide three meals per day which tend to be traditional recipes and give volunteers a great opportunity to sample a range of Senegalese delights!

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Our users say...
"I will never forget the moment when the 6 o’clock newsreader hadn’t turned arrived and the boss turned to me and said ‘you’re on!’ I was extremely nervous…Well I got through it fine and everyone started clapping when I finished. I was really touched. From then, I read the important 1 o’clock news whenever the main reader was absent." - Sinéad Garvan

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