AFRICAN RENAISSANCE FESTIVAL NEW MEDIA FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM

DISCLAIMER

The ARF New Media Fellowship Program is an African initiative, created by a conservative African with deep appreciation and respect for the support that the United States has provided to Africa's social, economic, technological, infrastructure and human development.

The program is not affiliated with any US intelligence agency or operation. We believe that Africans should take a stand and identify their true friends in times of need and avoid seeking instant gratification. While we welcome the support of the US State Department, US government agency or private US donors, the program is not a US government operation. We believe that this is an opportunity to highlight the positive contributions of the US to the advancement of African social, economic, technological, infrastructure, cultural and traditional values.

As indigenous Africans, it is time for us to lead the way in promoting US strategic interests in Africa, rather than the US telling Africa what to do. We believe that the partnership between Africa and the US is a safe and mutually beneficial one, and we are committed to continuing to work together towards a better future for all.

ABOUT ARF

We are a New York City-based conservative not-for-profit organization with the mission to decolonize the minds of Africans at home and abroad through the celebration of African culture, arts, history, struggles, achievements, resilience, and interwoven diversity of African people.

We seek to foster dialogue, people-to-people engagement, business development opportunities, including bridging the communication gap between people of African descent in the diaspora and Africans on the continent.

We advocate US strategic interest(s) in Africa through trade, US Investment in Africa, organizing US Africa business forum, and people-to-people engagement between the US and Africa: A new north-south-relationship based on mutual benefits, shared interests and respect for sovereignty, and territorial integrity.

Our primary goal is to guide African men and women at home and abroad back to their ancestor's roots, culture, tradition and spirituality through the following:

Advocating the remover of all the artificial borders imposed on Africa by the colonizers.
Supporting the repatriation of all African people scattered around the world back to Africa.
Advocating citizenship for all descendants of African slaves from the diaspora to any African country of choice on the continent of Africa irrespective of the country or region of origin; North, East, West, and South.
Advocating one official African language.
Advocating one African currency.
Supporting one African military command.
Advocating one African congress/parliament.
Advocating one African political leadership.
Advocating for African countries or the united states of Africa to have closer ties to the United States.
Advocating for African countries to consider the US as a preferred trading partner in face of the "Neo-Scramble for Africa" or the new go-political struggle for Africa between the East and West for influence in Africa.
We strongly reject the Berlin Conference of 1884–1885 scenario in which Europeans made decisions about our future with out our participation.
We embrace the "America First Agenda" (MEGA) and therefore urge African leaders to put "Africa First" too and let us meet halfway and work together for mutual benefits.
We strongly reject and oppose any attempt by foreign powers to impose LGBTQ religion or any agenda that under minds the indigenous cultural and family values across our beautiful continent under the canopy of FAKE human rights and equality.
We strongly reject and oppose any attempt by foreign powers to punish African countries for rejecting foreign values that degrades and undermines the integrity and values of our ancient ways of life.

We are dedicated to promoting US strategic interests in Africa through trade, commerce, cultural events, music, arts, people-to-people engagements, information and communication technology (ICT) literacy training and management, food security, preventative health, intellectual forums, and positive citizen journalism that highlights the United States contribution to the development of Africa.

ABOUT THE PROGRAM

The African Renaissance Festival (ARF) is excited to announce its New Media Fellowship Program, a two years program promoting US strategic interests in Africa.

The program is designed to decolonize the minds of Africans at home and abroad through citizen journalism by promoting African culture, arts, history, struggles, achievements, resilience, and interwoven diversity of African people both at home and overseas while promoting US strategic interest in Africa by reporting on US contributions to the economic, social and human development of African countries.

The fellowship program aims to transform any African social media user into a citizen journalist so that they can effectively tell their own stories using the latest multimedia technologies and Web 3.0 to create awareness about the contribution of the United States to Africa's economic, social, and social and human development.

The program offers selected fellows the opportunity to effectively use social media tools for reporting on various topics related to African culture, arts, history, struggles, achievements, and resilience.

The fellows will also report on US contributions to Africa's economic, social, and human development. The program will give them the skills to produce multimedia content, including podcasts, videos, and social media posts.

The ARF New Media Fellowship Program is a unique initiative that aims to create a platform for Africans from

(17 years up) irrespective of their ethnicity, creed, or gender, to tell their own stories.

The program also helps to create a new generation of African media professionals who can promote the continent's culture, arts, and history to the world while advocating closer US-Africa ties.

Fellows will report on US efforts to promote food security, preventative health, technology, infrastructure, and human development in Africa.

Through their reporting, they will be able to create awareness about the impact of US investments in Africa and help to promote a positive image of the United States on the continent.

The overall goal of the program is to advance US strategic interest(s) in all domains on the continent through intelligent diplomacy, respect for the territorial integrity of African states, respect for the sovereignty of African States, and the promotion of culturally sensitive democracy, culturally sensitive human rights, environmental preservation, peace-building, and US contribution to the economic development on the continent.

The ARF New Media Fellowship Program is highly competitive and allows selected fellows to develop their skills, expand their network, and build their portfolios.

The program will provide them with a platform to showcase their work to a global audience, which will help them to advance their careers in the media industry.

The African Renaissance Festival (ARF) New Media Fellowship Program is a unique initiative that aims to promote African culture, arts, history, struggles, achievements, resilience, spirituality, and interwoven diversity of African people while promoting US strategic interests in Africa.

The program will provide selected participants with the skills, network, and platform to tell their own stories and create awareness about the contribution of the United States to Africa's economic, social, and human development. The program is an excellent opportunity for Africans, home and abroad, who are passionate about promoting African culture and history to the world.

Implementation Strategy:

The ARF New Media Fellowship Program is an important initiative that aims to decolonize the minds of Africans while promoting US strategic interests in Africa. The program's implementation strategy involves recruiting and training fellows, assigning topics and regions, conducting research and reporting, publishing and disseminating, and evaluating and providing feedback.

The program has the potential to contribute to a more balanced and nuanced understanding of Africa and its development challenges and opportunities while promoting cultural exchange and cooperation between Africa and the US. The implementation strategy includes but is not limited to the following:

Recruitment and selection of fellows:

The first step is to recruit and select fellows for the program. Recruitment is currently in motion through an open call for applications, where interested individuals can submit their resumes and a statement of interest. The selection process prioritizes applicants passionate about African culture, history, and development and building closer US-Africa ties and also open to gaining experience in new media and journalism.

Orientation and training: Once the fellows are selected, they will undergo an orientation and exercise program to familiarize them with the program's goals, objectives, and expectations. The training will include sessions on new media tools and techniques, journalistic ethics and principles, African history and culture, brief US history, and US-Africa relations.

Assignment of topics and regions:

Each fellow will be assigned a specific topic or area to report on based on their interests and expertise. The topics will include economic development, food security, health, technology, infrastructure, and culture.

Research and reporting: The fellows will then research their assigned topics or regions and produce multimedia reports, including written articles, photo essays, and videos. The information will highlight US contributions to African development while showcasing African culture, history, and achievements.
Publication and dissemination: The reports will be published on the ARF website and social media platforms and shared with media outlets in Africa and the US. The program will also organize events and exhibitions to showcase the fellows' work and promote African culture and development.
Evaluation and feedback: The fellows will receive feedback and support from mentors and program coordinators throughout the program. At the end of the program, an assessment will be conducted to assess the program's impact on the fellows' skills, knowledge, and attitudes toward African development and US-Africa relations.
Selection Process: The selection process for the fellowship program is transparent, merit-based, and open to all Africans, both at home and abroad. The selection criteria prioritize applicants passionate about decolonization, promoting African culture, and advancing US strategic interest (s) in Africa.
To effectively promote US strategic interests in Africa, the ARF New Media Fellowship Program partner with alternative media outlets and organizations in Africa and the US. These partnerships provide the fellows access to resources and networks necessary for successful reporting and storytelling.
The fellowship program's robust curriculum provides fellows with the necessary skills to report on US contributions to Africa's economic, social, and human development. The curriculum emphasizes the importance of decolonizing African minds by promoting African culture, arts, history, struggles, achievements, resilience, and interwoven diversity of African people. Notably, the curriculum emphasizes the US's positive contributions to Africa's economic, social, and political development and promotes the US as the preferred trading partner of African countries.
To ensure the success of the fellowship program, it is essential to provide mentorship to the fellows. The program identifies experienced journalists and media professionals who can guide and support the fellows throughout the program.
Reporting and Dissemination: The fellowship program prioritizes reporting and disseminating information to a broad audience in Africa and abroad. The fellows are encouraged to produce high-quality stories and multimedia content that can be shared through various media outlets and platforms.

Content Delivery Strategy:

Course materials will be delivered online via a secured live web platform for the first month from June 1, 2023-July 1, 2023. Hereafter, the fellows will travel to the US from July 1-October 1, 2023, for face-to-face training where they will have an opportunity to meet in person, interact with the cohort, build a network, interview with US policymakers, local and federal legislatures, journalists, leaders of community-based organizations, media personalities, and significant technology leaders.

More importantly, fellows will participate and report on ARF 2023 US Africa, Caribbean, and West Indies Business Forum back to their respective countries. Moreover, the fellow will also cover the 2023 UN General Assembly in New York City.

Cost:

The ARF New Media Fellowship Program will offer a stipend to cover the cost of living, equipment, and other expenses associated with the fellowship. The allowance lets fellows focus entirely on their work and the program without worrying about financial constraints.

Who do we want?:

The program is seeking application from the African continent and abroad, especially descent of enslaved Africans in the United States, North America, Canada, Britain, EU countries, the Middle East, and Asia, irrespective of race, gender, or creed, who is interested in learning about how to use digital media to promote Pan-Americanism while showcasing the positive contributions of the United States in Africa.

ARF New Media Fellowship Program is an excellent opportunity for anyone from Africa or of African descent in the diaspora passionate about digital media and storytelling to gain new skills and showcase the positive contributions of the United States in Africa while respecting the territorial integrity, sovereignty, and cultural heritage of indigenous people on the continent.

We encourage all interested applicants to apply—especially people of African descent in North America, South America, the Caribbean, the West Indies, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. We encourage females of all ages, including those who are physically challenged.

How to Apply: Click here to apply.

Application in progress.

Duration: The program runs from January 31, 2024 to December 31, 2026, annually, beginning June 1, 2023.

Contact: info@arf2023.org

Web. www.arf2023.org

Yours truly,

ARF Management