The Press Institute training sites harmoniously merge ethics-based journalism training and employment of women, global dissemination of original content via in-country newswires, and community development through partner programs. On this page, you will learn about our training sites in Nepal and Kenya.

Global Training Site Kenya

Undo the Image of a Dying Africa

In 2010 The Press Institute is pairing up with Project Africa to kick off its Kenya Journalism Training Center and Independent News Desk! By training dozens of reporters and arming them with the latest technology and strong reporting skills, we seek to tell powerful stories about the reality of life in Africa. From the vibrancies of life, culture and craft to the scourge of famine and war, our coverage will present Africa in its full light – not as a dying continent, but a complex place teaming with life.

Phase One of our Journalism Training program in Kenya will take place in rural areas, where the average young person is 18, female, and with minimal education. By employing more than a dozen women in Kakamega, our trainers will empower and employ the women of Kenya’s villages and our News will become the voice of the villages and will provide a truly unique insight into the life, politics, and culture of rural Kenya.

Combining Ethical Journalism with Community Development

The full site will launch concurrently with our first-ever income generating project in Nairobi. Our first project is a Women’s Media Center that offers low-cost access to the Internet, skills-based training for the community, and hands-on job-training and mentoring in IT and micro-enterprise for women.

Global Training Site Nepal

The Press Institute opened its Global Training Site in Nepal in March of 2007. Over 100 women interviewed for the five available training spots! The five women who were chosen have gone on to produce strong, independent coverage on challenging topics ranging from the nation’s turbulent democracy and aftermath of the civil war to health care and human rights stories.

Just one year after joining the Institute, Senior Reporter Tara Bhattarai, who previously published under a male pseudonym, reported a story that took readers inside the realities of human trafficking. Tara told the story of a girl sold to a brothel in India, her abuses and eventual escape. That story received more than 1,000,000 hits in 2008 and remains one of the Institute’s best-known pieces of journalism!

Many of our other reporters in Nepal have also overcome great obstacles to produce exceptional journalism. Kalpana Bhusal, a member of the Dalit caste, wrote a provocative story on the ancient tradition of Baalighar. Anju Gautam Yogi often writes on issues of Gender Justice and political oppression.

In 2010, Global Training Site in Nepal will grow to include 5 new reporters, covering the eastern and western regions of the country.

Currently, The Press Institute is operating training programs of varying sizes are running in 22 countries around the world. Each program is tailored to the needs and resources available locally with the goal of empowering individuals, building stronger communities and delivering independent news.

Read news from Nepal, Kenya and beyond.