Islamabad: On Monday, Feb 13, the British High Commission hosted a reception to present certificates to the participants of the Chevening Mentoring Scheme for budding journalists from across Pakistan.
The mentorship program, which was launched in 2022, is designed to provide capacity-building opportunities to young female and male journalists by engaging senior journalists from the flagship Chevening South Asia Journalism Programme Fellowship (SAJP) to act as mentors.
As part of the program, four experienced journalists (two male and two female) developed bespoke training modules, selected young journalists, and then shared their knowledge and experience with their mentees in one-on-one leadership sessions and group discussions.
Zoe Ware, Acting Deputy High Commissioner, at the British High Commission Islamabad, said: “I was delighted to host such inspiring Chevening mentors and mentees at the High Commission. The Chevening mentorship programme for journalists is a fantastic addition to our internationally renowned scholarship programme. It promotes inclusion, and unlocks talent, which will inevitably lead to a more diverse media landscape in Pakistan.”
Adnan Amir, the editor of Balochistan Voices and 2018 Chevening SAJP Fellow, noted that: “Mentoring journalists from Baluchistan under the Chevening Mentoring program was an incredibly fulfilling experience for me. The programme provided me with an opportunity to mentor young journalists, who can now go-on to play their part in covering important stories affecting the people of Baluchistan”.
Chevening scholarships are a cornerstone of the UK’s public diplomacy efforts in Pakistan which is an important member of the Commonwealth community. The British High Commission is actively encouraging more women to apply for Chevening scholarships. This focus has resulted in the female intake of Chevening scholars rising to around 60% of the 2021 intake from 6% in 2013.
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