Join Us at

NEWF FELLOWS SUMMIT 2022

It has been a crazy 20 months since BC (Before Covid)!  None of us would have ever imagined what we have all experienced nor how we might get through it, but here we all are, still standing.  Or is it moving?  If the past twenty months have taught us anything, it is that we are resilient and ever shifting.  What it has gifted us, whether we acknowledge it or not, is the opportunity to reflect, re-think re-calibrate and re-imagine (as we did with NEWF2020). 

We have tried new ways of doing things, explored different mediums and (re)discovered things about ourselves that we might have forgotten or never knew were there.  Through all of this we have had some tough choices to make, one of these was postponing NEWF2021!  For us it was important that given an opportunity to be together that we try to do it in person and as safely as possible.  We thought that would be possible in 2021, but as “Covvie” showed us, that was not to be.

As we endeavour to retain our agile responses to Covid and its surprises, we continue to explore the best possible opportunities for us to reconvene our annual congress with all the same passion and energy that uniquely characterises our NEWF CommUNITY identity.

In the interim we have revisited our strategy revised our vision and mission statements and are excited to focus our efforts on achieving our goals. We would like to share our vision and mission statements with you:

Vision:

We envisage an industry where the Stories of Africa that celebrate and advocate for the protection of her natural history are told by a connected network of visual storytellers organically led by indigenous African voices.

Mission:

To remove the barriers to entry and build capacity in order to enable access, support inclusion and create a culture of equity for African nature, environment and wildlife visual storytellers.

But we are because of you and we would like to begin this new chapter by strengthening and deepening our NEWF CommUNITY across Africa by hosting the first ever NEWF Fellows Summit, to be held in South Africa, in February 2022. 

The summit will be focussed on understanding YOUR challenges, needs and goals and together develop resolutions aimed at overcoming these challenges whilst building capacity that fosters access and success. For the duration of 5 days, from the 7th to the 11th of February 2022 (final venue still to be decided upon), The NEWF Fellows Summit will be an in-person event designed to inspire, share, and learn through industry masterclasses, case studies, workshops and think tank like sessions. To ensure the maximum impact of the event, we would like to encourage you to share your challenges, needs and goals with us beforehand so that we may facilitate, where possible targeted interventions aimed at your benefit.

We hope you will be able to join us for this moment and in support our logistical planning to bring everyone together in a safe space, please will you inform us HERE of your availability and enthusiasm to attend and participate in the summit by no later than the 20th of December 2021.  Flights, transfers, accommodation, and meals will be provided for the duration of the summit, however we are unable to provide a daily stipend.

As we continue to respond to what seems to be a purge and/or a reckoning taking place across the globe, whether it be through Covid-19, the “Black Lives Matter” or “Me Too” movements, it is storytelling that remains at the heart of our shared experiences.

We hope that you can join us as we continue to build a connected CommUNITY, contributing towards initiatives that enable access, support inclusion, and create equity for all of Africa’s nature, environment and wildlife visual storytellers.

- Please read the COVID-19 safety protocol below prior to confirming your attendance. -

COVID-19 SAFETY PROTOCOL AT THE SUMMIT:

We are committed to creating a COVID-safe environment at the summit and are taking enhanced health and safety measures in the interest of your well-being as well as those around you, through our COVID-19 protocols listed below.

To attend the NEWF Fellows Summit you must understand and agree to the below terms and precautions that NEWF will be implementing:

  •  All NEWF Fellows Summit staff, volunteers, service providers, speakers, mentors, and delegates must be fully vaccinated in addition to receiving a negative Covid 19 PCR or antigen test at least 48 hours before the event (at your own cost). You will be required to provide verification of your full vaccination status. 

  • Agree to wear a face mask when requested to or advised by summit organisers, we will provide masks.

  • Complete daily screenings for symptoms and temperature checks.

  • Adhere to the COVID-19 disclaimer that verifies that you do not qualify in one or more of the following categories:

  • Are not currently experiencing or have experienced any symptoms related to COVID-19, which include fever or chills, cough, shortness of breath, fatigue, muscle aches and other symptoms outlined by the WHO within 14 days prior to the event.

  • Have been exposed or believed to have been exposed to anyone who is confirmed to be COVID-19 positive within 14 days prior to the event.

  • Have not tested positive for COVID-19 and/or are not yet cleared as non-contagious by health authorities responsible for your treatment.