Journalism Grad treks to Ethiopia
October 21, 2009
Did you know that up to 75% of Ethiopians don’t have access to clean drinking water? Journalism Graduate Joshua Hergesheimer reported on this issue in an article featured in The Vancouver Sun on September 19th.
Hergesheimer travelled to Ethiopia in June 2009 to report on clean drinking water accessibility and its effect on Ethiopians. His trip was his first overseas assignment and was part of the CIDA-Langara College Journalism Development Scholarship.
“With Ethiopa, I didn't want to do a food-based project because the story of food has been done,” explains Hergesheimer, on why he wanted to focus on the issue of water. “Up to 75% of people don't have access to clean water. That is double the population of Canada that doesn’t have water.”
His story highlights the Canadian initiatives that are helping bring clean spring water to villages using gravity and hydrology. Using topography to their advantage, gravity-fed piping systems have been installed making it much easier and faster for Ethiopians to access clean drinking water.
The $8,000 student scholarship allows journalism students to not only practice their journalism education but also strengthen the Canadian public's understanding of international development issues and Canadian contributions in this field.
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Read the full Vancouver Sun article here