A group of nine journalism lecturers from Rwandan universities gathered for a two-day workshop held on October 14 and 15 to finalize preparations for a new extra-curricular course aimed at equipping journalism students with skills to manage stress and trauma associated with their profession.
The workshop, which took place at Kigali Paramount Hotel, was organized under the AGILE program by Fojo Media Institute, with support from the European Union. This course, titled Managing Stress and Trauma in Journalism, is part of a broader initiative being rolled out across nine countries, including Rwanda. Initial development of the course took place earlier this year in Ethiopia.
Participating universities included the University of Rwanda (UR), Institut Catholique de Kabgayi (ICK), East African University Rwanda (EAUR), and Mount Kigali University.
Claudine Mahoro, the university coordinator for Fojo and facilitator of the workshop, explained that this course is one of the four focus areas of the AGILE program in 13 Countries. The others include Women Media Leaders of Tomorrow, Closing the Climate Coverage Gap, and Investigative Reporting for Women Journalism Students.
Claudine Mahoro (standing at the front) leads the workshop session
“Rwanda was chosen to focus on the ‘Managing Stress and Trauma’ module because it is the largest component among the four,” said Mahoro. “Rwanda is also a post-conflict country where the media sector is still developing, and journalists are often exposed to distressing situations without adequate support.”
Mahoro emphasized the importance of this course in helping journalism students build resilience and emotional awareness early in their careers.
“The course will help students recognize the signs of stress and trauma, understand how these issues can impact their work and well-being, and learn practical strategies to cope,” she said. “The goal is not just to raise awareness but to equip future journalists with the tools they need to protect their mental health.”
Fojo Media Institute, Mahoro added, has played a critical role in designing the course content and will continue to support universities through training instructors and covering implementation costs.
Although an official start date for the course has not yet been announced, Mahoro noted that universities have been given the flexibility to integrate the course into their academic programs at their own pace.
“We expect the course to begin soon, but each university will decide when and how to introduce it, based on their academic calendar and curriculum structure,” she explained. “The course is designed to complement existing journalism courses.”
Lecturers who participated in developing the course expressed strong support for its relevance and necessity.
Dr. Jeanne d’Arc Mukamana, a journalism lecturer at the University of Rwanda, said: “This course was long overdue. It’s surprising that it wasn’t considered in the curriculum before, because journalists often report on traumatic events and are personally affected. It’s essential for students to learn how to navigate this aspect of their profession before entering the field.”
Andrew Nyanyuki Onsongo, a lecturer at East African University Rwanda, echoed the sentiment, stressing the course’s potential to reduce stigma and promote mental health awareness among journalists.
Andrew Nyanyuki Onsongo, a lecturer at EAUR
“This is a timely and relevant course. For too long, the emotional toll of journalism has been ignored. By normalizing discussions around stress and trauma, we empower future journalists to seek help and build resilience without feeling weak or ashamed,” he said.
