#ICFJglobal Reporting Fellows

A select group of U.S. journalists are fanning out across the globe to complete reporting projects as part of two distinct fellowship programs run by the International Center For Journalists (ICFJ). Follow the #icfjglobal fellows' amazing work right here.

[internationalfellows]

Brother Anthony of Taizé is a retired English professor and prolific translator of Korean poetry and prose.  He moved to South Korean in 1980 and lives in Seoul with a group of brothers from the monastic Taizé community. Over the past three decades, he's watched Korean literature evolve. 

"It’s very hard to be a writer in Korea because you have no critical community," he says. "Korea does not understand the role of the literary critic.  The only acceptable form of criticism is admiration."

-Mythili Rao @mythilirao

[internationalfellows]

Writer Han Yujoo is thirty-three years old.  She has lived in Korea her whole life, but she says she's not sure her work is particularly Korean. "I have no memory of the Japanese occupation, the Korean War, even the Vietnam War," she says. "I have only the images of 9/11-- the universal theme."

-Mythili Rao @mythilirao

[internationalfellows]

Opening ceremonies for the 2015 Seoul International Book Fair included a performance from the Adopted Korean Children’s Choir, a musical calligraphy performance by calligrapher Lee Sang-Hyun, and this "unique levitation performance."

The fair is hosted by the the Korean Publishers Association, a consortium of 570 publishing companies.  The fair's goal is to facilitate exchange between Korean and International publishers and "promote the reading culture in Korea."

Mythili Rao @mythilirao

[internationalfellows]

Here are some iphone snapshots taken while documenting the bateys, communities of sugar plantation workers, in the Dominican Republic. Almost all sugar cane workers are Haitian immigrants. I photographed many men who represent thousands more that were brought to the DR for forced, cheap labor in the 1950s and now after working 7 days a week at about U.S.$53/mo. and paying social security for 50 years, they are literally starving to death without their pensions. 

This prayer hung in the headquarters of the non-profit where I stayed. I am not a religious person, but it really resonated with me. It asks God to help immigrants reach a land that won't exploit them or try to strip them of their identity and to give them strength to find their way to a place where they can live in justice, solidarity, and peace. 

Michelle Kanaar

@mikanaar

[internationalfellows]

Bony Charles, 66, has been waiting five years for his pension. When he was seventeen a buscon brought him from Haiti to work in a government-owned sugar plantation. A buscon is someone who is paid to recruit people for work. "They [the buscones] sold us to the government for money," he says.  

Speaking of the current deportations of Haitians from the Dominican Republic, Charles says, "It's an abuse, the deportations, they are sending them to Haiti once they are done using them as slaves and have gotten rich off their work."

Thirteen years ago his hands were smashed in a work accident. In this photo he holds up the identification card given to him by former President Trujillo known for his massacre of Haitians (The Parsley Massacre), as well as his involvement in bringing Haitian immigrants into the country to work the sugar plantations. 

Michelle Kanaar

@mikanaar

[internationalfellows]

Alister Yan, 75, suffered an accident while working when he slipped and fell onto a sugar cane stalk. Without his pension he could not afford medical care. Now that small wound has become a massive infection with the high threat of spreading internally and causing death. 

Michelle Kanaar

@mikanaar

[internationalfellows]

Working in the bateys

Michelle Kanaar

@mikanaar

[internationalfellows]

Alyssa Perry reported in Seoul earlier this summer. Thanks ICFJ! 

[livefromkenya-blog]

Putting in some work for my carnival story at The Lost Tribe’s debut mas camp in Woodbrook. In response to calls for more traditional and affordable costume options, Tribe carnival band – one of the most popular in Trinidad – launched this alternative for masqueraders who want the fun and services of the high profile band while playing a style more reminiscent of old mas.

[livefromkenya-blog]

The call came in early: shooting threat, staff evacuated. Wires to lights and security cameras inside a center operated by one of #Trinidad’s prominent ministries had been cut. Although unsubstantiated, rumors swirled of a possible ordered killing.

It’s the daily reality of some of Trinidad’s most vulnerable areas. Warfare is exploding between two of the country’s most notorious gangs: the Muslims and the Rastas - most members are neither Muslim nor Rasta. After a few years of decreased crime, the murder rate is on the uptick with no signs of slowing down. And control over a thriving arms and drug trade is largely to blame.

Ahead of a bitterly contested election ripe with corruption allegations against both leading parties, Trinidad is faced with a tough decision of who will lead the country amid growing turmoil.

[internationalfellows]

Post courtesy of Kenya Downs

[internationalfellows]

A fellow Fellow! 2015 Bringing Home the World Fellow Akiko Fujita met up with ICFJ Knight Fellow Harry Surjadi in Jakarta, Indonesia. Fujita and Surjadi had corresponded prior to her trip. 

[internationalfellows]

Slides by 2015 #icfjglobal Fellow Nadia Tamez-Robledo, who traveled to Mexico to learn about the daily lives and long term plans of people who grew up undocumented in the United States and recently were deported, some of whom have little to no family, resources or language skills. She also examined the evolving strategy of attorneys representing Latin American citizens applying for political asylum.

[internationalfellows]

#ICFJGlobal Fellow Raymond Downs is currently in Nicaragua, investigating the effects of economic and ecological changes on indigenous peoples.

Meet the rest of the 2015 Fellows here.

[internationalfellows]

Just moments before, these guys in white were trying to run me off the property where migrant workers toil away at brick kilns. And then, they were all smiles for the camera.

Liz Jones, India, High-Tech Immigration

http://lizamelia.tumblr.com/

[internationalfellows]

A fun part of exploring the Bangalore City Market was showing people the photos I'd take of them. They'd all laugh and wave friends over for a look.

Liz Jones, India, High-Tech Immigration

[internationalfellows]

This 82-year-old lives at a retirement home in Chennai, India. His only son lives in a time zone 12.5 hours away, in Seattle, Washington. Just one way immigration can fragment families, and how families adjust.

Liz Jones, India, High-Tech Immigration

[internationalfellows]

A chai wallah at Microsoft of the far east, in Hyderabad, India. This guy said he pours hundreds of chais every day, and Indian filter coffee is second most popular request.

Liz Jones, India, High-Tech Immigration