The untimely passing of Rodney Rice has laid bare the strong feelings of respect and admiration for his work as a journalist and broadcaster. However, it was his devotion, advocacy and persistent interest in development issues that made him one of the long-term adjudicators for the Simon Cumbers Media Fund. For well over a decade, […]
Against The Wire – lockdown in Lesvos: a blog
When I left Lesvos in mid-March, Moria refugee camp was still running out of water in some parts by 9.30am. Social distancing was almost impossible, and residents feared the worst if the pandemic hit. New groups were formed – The Moria Corona Awareness Team, and The Moria White Helmets – and refugees organised with local […]
Paraguay and pre-eclampsia: Covering a different health crisis during a pandemic: a blog
The story idea seemed clear when I pitched it: write an article about Paraguay’s efforts to save its women and babies from pre-eclampsia, a deadly yet silent disease that is now virtually unknown in Europe thanks to medical advances. Coronavirus had different plans. I was lucky enough to travel to Paraguay in February before border […]
Update on summer round of the Fund
The Simon Cumbers Media Fund hosts two main funding rounds each year; in summer and in winter. Due to the evolving situation relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, the opening of the summer 2020 round has been postponed. The situation will be kept under review, and while a date has not yet been set for the […]
Africa’s Army of Trees – a reflection on Senegal and Covid 19
Most victims of Covid 19 are anonymous. Not in the case of the first person to lose his life to the disease in Senegal. On Tuesday, March 31st, the West African nation was shocked by the terrible news that Pape Diouf, who became a Senegalese hero as the manager of the Olympique de Marseilles football […]
Africa’s Army of Trees – part two
It took some effort to wake up the woman in the ticket kiosk at the Museum of Black Civilisations, in Dakar, Senegal. It was a very hot Wednesday afternoon and there was barely a soul in the place. Maybe there was some special reason for this on that particular day. I hope so, because it’s […]
