Inside the 2026 Fellowship: The People and Their Projects

Earlier this year we kicked off the 2026 One World Media Fellowship, bringing together the ten selected journalists and filmmakers to commence their remote programme and respective projects. Reporting from 9 different countries, our Fellows will dedicate the next year to uncovering specific stories in their regions that are underreported or overlooked by mainstream media. 

We asked this group of talented storytellers what motivated them to apply to the Fellowship, and what they’re hoping to get out of this programme. They shared what drew them to the stories they pitched, how they intend to approach these topics, and what impact they wish to create. We are proud to be working with such incredible journalists and media makers who are set to bring us nuanced human stories that help us understand each other better, and provide examples that give us strength to continue fighting for justice and social change. 

Read more below.

Monica Jha

The recipient of our Global Health Film Grant, Monica Jha will tell the story of different approaches to mental wellbeing across India. Through her piece, she endeavours to highlight practices that bridge the gap between medicine and spirituality, and to “normalise seeking medical help, and bring global attention to humane, community-based care models emerging from grassroots efforts.” 

Monica’s commitment to spotlighting solutions rather than simply documenting problems attracted her to the Global Health Film Grant, a collaboration between One World Media, Financial Times, and the Pulitzer Centre.

“I was drawn to One World Media’s focus on stories from the Global South that challenge stereotypes and reshape how these stories are perceived.”

Paola Margu

Once a ballet dancer, now an award-winning journalist, Paola’s work focuses on oceans and gender equality. The story she will tell as part of the Fellowship is that of fisherwomen from Yucatán, who make up less than 3% of the state’s registered fishers. The film will reveal the struggles the women face while highlighting their resilience and efforts in climate conservation. Paola’s emphasis will be “to tell the stories from the women’s perspectives, as leaders of their own narratives.”

The Fellowship appealed to Paola as it provided “access to an international community of journalists and filmmakers, to dignify stories from Mexico by telling them from a local perspective and being able to reach not only global audiences but editors, producers and other journalists.”

Celia Guerrero

Motivated by her need for “institutional support, editorial guidance, and the resources to develop a story with the time, care, professionalism, and sensitivity it requires,” Celia Guerrero applied for the fellowship. Her work emphasizes investigative reporting on sensitive topics, connecting audiences to her stories.

“When I read about the One World Media Fellowship call, it felt like a program designed for the kind of project I had in mind.” 

Celia will be reporting from Mexico, documenting the realities and inequalities in her region, with a focus on silenced stories. She wants her work to be “a vehicle for empathy and understanding” and to help build fairer societies. We look forward to working with Celia to bring untold stories from across Mexico to life. 

Emmanuel Nturanyenabo

Emmanuel Nturanyenabo creates diverse content to bring intimate African stories to global audiences.

“As a Rwandan filmmaker who has spent years documenting reconciliation, I wanted a space that values sensitive storytelling and can help shape the universal relevance of this narrative. The Fellowship’s focus on underreported stories aligns perfectly with my intention to present a human and intimate account of healing after conflict.” Emmanuel’s short documentary examines the fragile, ongoing process of healing through a lens that is both intimate and universal, by telling  the story of reconciliation between Bonfrida, a genocide widow, and Pio, her childhood friend who took part in her husband’s killing during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. 

Felipe Esparza Pérez

Felipe Esparza Pérez’s project focuses on the complexity and contradictions of sustainable mining practices in the Peruvian Amazon, a region impacted by deforestation and climate change, where miner Lucila Huanca recovers gold using a simple gravimetric table, separating sediment without mercury. 

Felipe hopes to “encourage conversations about sustainability, gender, and the real conditions of gold production” to “challenge dominant narratives and amplify perspectives often overlooked in global media.” He is also the recipient of the Amazon Film Grant, and will be producing his film for Mongabay.

Hsu Pan Naing

Hsu Pan Naing was drawn to the Fellowship’s “mentorship, skills, and network,” hoping to broaden the reach of her work. With a strong collection of projects under her belt, this opportunity will allow her to experiment with new storytelling approaches.

“I hope to create media that not only documents reality but also connects people, sparks understanding and encourages reflection on the human cost of conflict.”

Hsu Pan will gather voices of Myanmar’s youth based in Thailand, to create a visual podcast archive that shares stories of resilience and reality amidst an ongoing civil war. Myanmar is one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists and independent media, with very little reporting coming out of the country. Hsu Pan’s approach to “capture emotions and struggles honestly, rather than creating polished or imposed narratives” will give voice to the silenced youth of Myanmar.  

Nicolás Suárez Pástor

Following a group of young Amazonian women who sued the Ecuadorian state over the contamination of their territories by oil flares, Nicolás Suárez Pástor will “expose how inherited violence is sustained, and challenge dominant ideas of development that continue to justify the exploitation of the Amazon and its communities.”

Nicolás’s background in documentary filmmaking and social justice led him to the Fellowship, and through it he hopes to achieve international reach.

“I’m motivated by the chance to strengthen the film’s impact, refine its narrative, and connect with a community committed to shaping documentaries that drive meaningful social change.”

Nyree Abrahamian

Nyree is the producer of Country of Dust, an award-winning narrative podcast that explores the realities of Armenia during a time of war, migration, shifting alliances, and economic change, telling the stories of people navigating this complex in-between moment in the country’s history. Despite the strong listener base, the podcast has not had the resources to tell a specific story that Nyree has been wanting to share; the story of Cem Capar, a man living in Vakifli, Turkey, who “has built his life around quiet, steadfast stewardship of his homeland.” After the 2023 earthquake, however, the village struggles to survive, let alone thrive. The Fellowship will make it possible for Nyree and her team to finally tell this story with the attention and resources it deserves.  

“We focus on telling the human stories behind the geopolitical events or phenomena. And that is what we plan to do with this episode. We want this piece to shine a light on a place and a group of people who are largely unknown.”

Seliphar Musungu Machoni

Based in Kenya, Seliphar Musungu Machoni will tell  “human stories of small scale farmers, who are leading climate smart agriculture innovations.” Seliphar aims to inspire local communities while encouraging the use of sustainable farming practices globally. 

“I hope my piece will encourage replication of such initiatives and demonstrate how community led solutions can address climate change, food security, and livelihoods, bridging local realities with global relevance. I see this fellowship as an opportunity to create impactful stories that inspire change both locally and internationally.”

Toka Omar

Toka applied to the Fellowship for the opportunity to grow as a director through “thoughtful guidance, editorial feedback, and the right platform to reach global audiences.”

“I know how transformative [One World Media’s] mentorship can be. I’m seeking a space where I can refine my vision, strengthen my craft, and tell this story with the depth, care, and impact it deserves.”

Toka’s piece will observe the relationship between a teacher and his student in the Red Sea town of Al Quseir and their work to protect wildlife in their sea. She hopes to illustrate “what meaningful change looks like when it starts from within a community.” The film observes how two generations protect what they love and inspire a community to do the same.