Pictured at the launch of the European Commission Humanitarian Aid (ECHO) competition for third level students entitled ‘Crisis Correspondent – Reporting from Uganda’: (l to r) Claire Moore, Danni Gilsenan and Mo Kaddem.
The competition offers one lucky student the chance of a lifetime to get firsthand experience of humanitarian aid.

The aim of the competition is to raise awareness of the “forgotten” crises which are funded by the European Commission's Humanitarian Aid department (ECHO).

ECHO provides aid to countries beyond its borders which are struck by natural disaster or conflict. Much of its funding goes towards crises that are unreported by the media.

In order to raise awareness of these "forgotten" crises, ECHO is running a competition for third level students across Ireland to challenge them to consider how they would report on a given issue. The competition is supported by two of ECHO’s partners: Irish NGOs Goal and Concern Worldwide.

The ‘Crisis Correspondent – Reporting from Uganda’ competition offers a unique opportunity to participating third level students to win a once-in-a-lifetime visit to Uganda to experience firsthand the humanitarian aid provided to people affected by crises in this country.

In addition to the trip, the winner will receive a professional camera to record his/her story from Uganda and the assistance of a mentor who will give professional career advice.

The competition will be judged by Richard Downes, presenter on RTE’s Morning Ireland; Lelia Doolan, former Chair of the Irish Film Board and founder of Ireland’s first media studies course; and Emma Ledden, a successful media and communications training professional.

The competition is open to all third level students in Ireland. The closing date for entries is Friday, 6 November 2009.

Full details of how to enter are available at www.crisiscorrespondent.ie.