Amplify, a media and content creation program has raised $350,000 from The MasterCard Foundation to develop a fellowship of young, dynamic multimedia content creators who will craft compelling stories about Africa.
With the funding, Amplify will launch in Kigali (Rwanda), Lagos (Nigeria), and Nairobi (Kenya) in September 2016.
“Amplify is a great platform to find and nurture talented Africans who want to create amazing content, acquire and develop creation skills, and distribute their work globally,” said CNN alumni Zain Verjee.
Verjee adds that Amplify is an added weapon to “develop an exclusive network of multimedia storytellers who will be able to tell universal stories about Africa, and armed with the skills to work for major media outlets, freelance, or start their own storytelling shops.”
The Fellows will be immersed in a six-month holistic and individualized instruction program that starts to fill a much-needed media and storytelling talent pipeline in Africa, providing access to job opportunities. Fellows will receive a monthly stipend and digital hardware as part of their program benefits.
The 2016 program will be in Nairobi, Lagos and Kigali, so individuals in those cities are encouraged to apply. aKoma is looking for the most committed candidates who are up for a fun but challenging experience. The Fellowship selection process will be rigorous, and a total of only twenty-five Fellows will be chosen.