DVV International in Malawi continues to honour the media’s efforts in promoting Adult Learning and Education (ALE). On 3^rd May, the organisation joined a team of non-governmental and corporate organisations in commemorating the Word Press Freedom Day (WPFD), an event which took place at Grand Palace Hotel in Mzuzu City, the northern part of Malawi. The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) – Malawi Chapter organised the event to honour journalists in various categories.

The WPFD has been celebrated since 1993, and this year’s event focused on how AI is affecting press freedom worldwide.

During the event, DVV International honoured two journalists for excellent reporting on ALE. The journalists walked away with a cheque worth MK500,000 (about $295) each.

The ALE Award for print the media category went to Kondwani Kamiyala of Nation Publications Limited and the ALE Award electronic category was bagged by Noel Mkwaila of Capital FM Radio.

Kamiyala’s story focused on ways of reducing recidivism in prison. Many people reoffend because they lack access to income-generating activities when released. Kamiyala’s article brings forward possible solutions to recidivism. The solutions include provision of vocational skills to the inmates so that they can better make a living when they are back in the community.

Mkwaila’s winning story zooms in on various challenges that ALE faces. The challenges include poor infrastructure and lack of teaching and learning materials. The story goes further to call for joint efforts to curb these challenges.

Every year, MISA Malawi holds this event to award journalists for reporting excellence on issues ranging from Business and Economics to Human Rights, Public Infrastructure Management, Health Research, Democracy and Good Governance and Adult Learning and Education (ALE), among others.

MISA Malawi presents these media awards in conjunction with various organisations, depending on the sector. DVV International has been sponsoring the awards since 2020 for journalistic excellence in the area of ALE – in print and digital media.

Below is a list of previous winners in the ALE category: