Aspiring journalists with big dreams

By Mwangi Muiruri

Journalism has a mystical pull for several teenagers, including 42 girls from Gatura Girls’ Boarding School, Gatanga District.

To realise their dreams, they have formed a Journalism Club whose patron is their Kiswahili teacher, Ms Pamela Wandabwa.

"They have officials complete with a treasurer who accounts for the money they raise from their pocket money," Wandabwa says.

The treasurer, Brenda Muthoni, says, "What keeps us going is the honest determination to grow into career journalists."

Wandabwa says the girls’ enthusiasm is paying off since they have published two editions of an in-house magazine, The Gatura Mirror.

Members of the Gatura Girls’ Boarding School’s Journalism Club listen intently as a senior editor with The Standard shows them the ropes. [PHOTOS: Maxwell Agwanda/Standard]

"Besides, we have launched our own version of a TV and Radio channel where we imitate live broadcasts through performing arts," she says.

During their recent tour of The Standard Group, the girls could not hide their excitement on witnessing firsthand what happens in busy newsrooms.

"It feels so real! It is as if I’m already there," declared Mary Nekesa, an 18-year-old Form Four student.

Nekesa is aspiring to become a radio reporter before moving on to television.

"I’m working hard in Kiswahili. My interest is reporting on children’s issues. I hope to be like Catherine Kasavuli," she says.

Gatura Mirror editor, Caroline Munene, 17, an aspiring newscaster calls on people in the media to mentor club members and visit their school to coach them on reporting and editing.

Maureen Ndonyo, 15, says mother tongue reporting inspires her.

"My idol is Peter Karugu of Coro FM. I would like to report on sexual abuses," she dreams.

Munene says her passion is to become a celebrated news anchor like Lillian Muli of KTN one day. "I’m obsessed with real life experiences that draw inspiration," she says.

Her eventual goal is to become a journalist of international fame one day.

Hannah Kimani, the club’s chairperson hopes to become a political reporter. "I plan to specialise in languages at university."

All in all, these girls are working hard to ensure their dreams of becoming journalists are realised.