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University students head to Africa as they begin careers by David Lea Oakville Beaver Staff 17 | Thursday, June 19, 2014 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com Two Oakville natives will be educated in assisting humanity over the coming months as they intern for a Canadian charity in Malawi and Tanzania. Felicity Feinman and Andrew Newton, both 21, are fourth-year Carleton University students. Through Carleton's Centre for Media in Traditional Societies, they will be doing internships overseas with Farm Radio International, a Canadian charity that works with 38 African countries to fight poverty and food insecurity. "I honestly have no idea what to expect," said Newton, whose two-month internship will begin in Malawi's capital of Lilongwe in late June. "I know it is going to be a life-changing experience." A graduate of Iroquois Ridge Secondary School, who is now studying communications and business, Newton said he heard great things from others who have done internships and decided to try it. "It's just something I couldn't see myself passing up," he said. Feinman, who attended W.H. Morden and Heritage Glen public schools and is a journalism student at Carleton, said she also heard about the internships through word-of-mouth. She's taking part for personal and academic reasons. "I was really excited because my family is from South Africa and Tanzania and I have never been to Africa," said Feinman. "I really wanted to go to one of those countries and I got really lucky this year because they actually had an opening in Tanzania. That's where my granddad was born. This is really a lifelong dream for me." Feinman said her time would be spent in the cities of Arusha and Mtwara. Both students will go to rural villages where Farm Radio International works and where they will interview residents about their farming practices. The information and tips the farmers provide will then be broadcast to millions of farmers and their families on more than 540 stations throughout 38 countries in sub-Saharan Africa. The initiative is intended to provide farmers across Africa with practical information about sustainable farming, health, and community development issues -- such as fertilizing crops with compost and preventing disease by protecting Oakville natives Felicity Feinman and Andrew Newton drinking water. will be doing internships in different countries in Africa It is also intended to give farmers a voice to as part of a program offered by their university. share their wisdom and raise their concerns. | photo by Riziero Vertolli ­ Oakville Beaver (Follow Feinman, whose two-month internship began on Twitter @halton_photog or facebook.com/ in late April, said she would also report on Farm HaltonPhotog) Radio's activities with the Aga Khan Foundation The Carleton program provides students with of Canada and the Canadian International Devel- a $3,000 bursary to help cover their expenses opment Agency. while they are in Africa. She intends to do a video documentary on Farm Radio's work in Tanzania. Newton said getting used to the culture and not looking like a tourist is at the top of his mind. Feinman said learning Swahili to communicate with the farmers will be her greatest challenge. Feinman and Newton said the program is important because it is sending journalism and communications students places where Canada's media has a decreasing presence. "Since the Centre for Media in Traditional Societies was founded (in 2009) they have sent 150 journalism and communications students to Africa," said Feinman. "Canadian media is so absent from Africa I think it is really important people in Canada know about not just the bad things that are happening in terms of development, but the good things and that the people in these countries are empowered and are taking their futures into their own hands." After his internship is complete Newton said he would be returning to a job he has as a digital content strategist with a digital media marketing firm in Toronto. Feinman said she plans to teach English for a year in France as she prepares for a career in communications in the world development field. The pair will be blogging about their experiences during their internships. Feinman can be followed at http://felicityfeinman.wordpress.com; Newton's adventure can be followed at http://andrewnewton.ca/wanderlust. Audiology and Hearing Aid Centre HEARING SCIENCES Secure your future Get hands-on training that pays. with hands-on training. "I can hear but I can't understand...everyone mumbles" Hearing loss develops gradually over many years or even decades. Most people wait an average of 7-9 years before seeking help. We offer a Unique Adaptation to Hearing program that gradually restores your hearing in small steps. 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