DUSHANBE, December 6, 2008, Asia-Plus  -- The BBC World Service Trust announces competition for journalists from Tajikistan, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan on production of high-quality print materials on social subjects, in particular women’s and children’s rights issues, according to the National Association of Independent Media of Tajikistan (Nansmit).

The competition is held in the frames of the project, Mobilizing the Media in Support of Women’s and Children’s Rights in Central Asia, which is supported by the European Commission.

The source at Nansmit noted that the competition proposes production of articles and essays under the direction of foreign mentors. 

“Financial and technical support will be provided to the competition participants and the winner will be given an opportunity to make training trip abroad,” the source said.

To participate in the competition candidates should send brief CVs to [email protected] by December 15 in order to be registered for online learning course iLearn.

iLearn is an online learning system devised by the BBC World Service Trust for media professionals in developing and transitional countries.  The courses are aimed at users with poor Internet connectivity and with little or no technical expertise. They can be published in any language.

iLearn forms a key component of "blended learning" programs - i.e. face-to-face training coupled with online learning.