Are you an illustrator, graphic novel creator or animation/motion graphics designer who wants to inject life into investigative stories into human trafficking and slavery?

The continent’s largest data journalism network, Code for Africa (CfA), is offering part-time fellowships for graphic storytellers who will design powerful illustrations and other visuals which bring stories of human trafficking in southern Africa to life in the form of short graphic novels (see this example) and social media animations (like this one). 

You’ll work alongside forensic researchers, data analysts, infographic designers and social media creatives, as well as traditional investigative journalists. Your dynamic and engaging stories will be published by agenda-setting newsrooms to reach audiences in South Africa, Zimbabwe, Mozambique and Botswana through social media channels, like Instagram and Twitter. This project is based in these four countries and applicants who are based in any of  these regions or who have lived in one of them are especially encouraged to apply. Your visual narratives will help set the scene for how human trafficking affects women and children, illustrating an under-reported crisis in ways that are respectful and ethical. 

What we’re looking for:

A dynamic and creative visual artist who knows how to wield digital media to design innovative graphic stories that spotlight human trafficking on social media and in newsroom publications.

You don’t need to be a journalist, but you need to have a knack for weaving a compelling visual narrative.

The project is spearheaded by CfA’s WanaData women data science/storytelling programme, so women story-tellers are especially encouraged to apply. 

What you’ll need to do:

  1. Use our resources and information to illustrate powerful human trafficking stories in collaboration with our newsroom partners and social media creatives
  2. Design social animations, viral GIFs and other illustrations using our resources and information to be published on social media
  3. Create and implement a visual story-telling strategy that can produce a series of engaging narratives of human trafficking based on what our investigations uncover 
  4. Work alongside journalists, researchers and data analysts to ethically produce your visual narratives with respect to the dignity of the people who will be represented in your artworks

Fill in this form  by December 15th to apply. 

The fellowship will run from December 2020 until early 2021, with the potential for renewal. 

Successful applicants will receive stipends, and will work with a multinational support team.