Jesuit Refugee Service launches journalist competition

June 5, 2012 in 2007

The Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) Europe is launching a competition for student journalists, giving them a remarkable opportunity to highlight the challenges facing refugees and asylum seekers trying to access asylum in Europe. The competition is open to students, or recent graduates, from any institute of higher education in one of the forty-three member states of the Council of Europe. Articles should not exceed 1200 words on the theme: ‘Access to Asylum’.

“Access to asylum in Europe is becoming more and more difficult; steps taken by governments are restricting access to state borders, yet the number of people requiring our help is growing as asylum seekers are forced to take more dangerous routes to reach safety. We want to help dispel the myths and misconceptions about refugees”, said Father Jan Stuyt, Director JRS Europe.

The authors of the three best articles will be invited to Brussels to attend a prize giving ceremony in the European Parliament and meet members of the jury who are all experienced journalists in this area. The overall winner will be invited to a refugee camp in Malawi as the guest of JRS Southern Africa, where he or she will meet refugees, representatives of NGOs and local media.

14 November 2007