Dear friends,
As we close out 2025, I want to take this moment to reflect on the year we’ve had and to thank you for walking alongside fraycollege in strengthening media and communication for the benefit of people across the continent. This has been a year defined by collaboration, learning and meaningful contributions to the sectors we serve.
We worked with journalists, communicators, bloggers, educators, students, civil society organisations and content creators who are committed to strengthening how stories are told and how information shapes public understanding. We strengthened our partners’ ability to share accurate, timely information and to tell stories that can influence decisions and save lives. We also helped ensure that African voices lead the narrative about the continent. Together, we built skills, deepened critical conversations and created environments where ethical, impactful storytelling can truly thrive.
Some of the highlights I am especially are proud of include:
Africa-Wide Health Communications Fellowship in partnership with multiple health experts and journalists from across Africa
This year, health experts and journalists collaborated to produce powerful public health stories across a range of formats: documentaries, radio shows, dramas, news articles, opinion pieces, poems, infographics, social media campaigns and even school-based productions. Many of these stories have already reached wide audiences, and some have drawn the attention of policymakers, a clear indication of the fellowship’s long-term, sustainable impact and a demonstration of how strong health communication can influence behaviour, improve understanding and spark action.
Institutionalising Gender-Sensitive Journalism in Africa in partnership with GIZ, Wits Centre for Journalism and SABC
We successfully piloted a free gender sensitivity and reporting on GBV course aimed at strengthening gender-sensitive reporting and improving the quality of coverage on gendered violence in newsrooms. This course supports the integration of ethical, contextual and survivor-centred reporting into newsroom practice and journalism curricula. We look forward to offering it more widely across the continent.
Preparing Africa for its First G20 in partnership with B20 and Sanlam
Our collaboration supported journalists and storytellers across Africa to report on the continent’s first G20. This work strengthened reporters’ ability to bring African agency, context and clarity into global policy conversations. The partnership positioned African perspectives more firmly within international dialogue and supported practitioners to challenge narrow narratives in global reporting.
TikTok Training for HIV and GBV Storytelling in partnership with UNAIDS, UN Women and the MDDA
Together, we trained youth content creators, community journalists and activists to produce ethical, engaging TikTok content about HIV and GBV. This collaboration expanded access to accurate, youth-friendly storytelling tools and empowered participants to spark meaningful online conversations on one of the world’s most influential platforms.
Community Media Training in partnership with the Association of Independent Publishers (AIP)
Our partnership with AIP supported independent publishers through marketing, sales and sustainability training. This work strengthened the business foundations of community media, helping ensure that local newsrooms remain resilient and able to serve their communities with credible, independent information
As we look toward 2026, we reaffirm our commitment to supporting women across the media and communications landscape. This year, we stood with organisations working to end gender-based violence, amplified women’s leadership in public discourse, and supported storytellers shaping conversations about justice and equality. Our media management work, delivered with the Wits Centre for Journalism and the fraymedia Foundation, continued to create pathways for women entrepreneurs and senior newsroom leaders to strengthen their leadership and build sustainable media businesses. These efforts reflect our belief that a more inclusive media ecosystem is essential for strong communities and for a continent that tells its own stories with confidence. We look forward to building on this work with you in 2026.
Yours,
Mamaponya Motsai
CEO, fraycollege
