Life's one incredible journey

Contemplating my personal vision for myself and the world around me is an interesting exercise: Where am I, where do I want to be, what changes do I need to make in my behaviour in order to get there.

I am a journalist-researcher interested in communities and cultures. An avid traveller, give me a free ticket and I'd go in whichever direction. As Ryszard Kapuscinski, Polish traveller-reporter writes: 'Man is by nature a sedentary creature, settled down happily, naturally, on his particular patch of earth... But to traverse the world for years in order to get to know it, to plumb it, to understand it? And then later, to put all his findings into words? Such people have always been uncommon.'

Kapuscinski wrote this of Herodotus -- one of the earliest Greek travellers. This is what I would like to be: A musafir – traveller/ wanderer constantly in search of the new; someone whose role is to write, document the stories often neglected by the mainstream. A chronicler of sorts. There are stories waiting to be told and given the constraints of commercial media, they have long been neglected.

Work takes me to fringe populations and remote areas – possibly some of the poorest communities on the planet. Issues and challenges here range from clean drinking water and sanitation to basic health services (eg maternal mortality) and malnutrition. As a media practitioner I see first-hand how empowering it is for the poor to see themselves on media. Media gives their voice credibility. Often ignored, visibility on media gives them a quiet confidence. Stories from the field receive excellent response from editors as well as audience because they show us a slice of grim reality. Editors and peers respect writers who go the extra mile to get a good story.

But conventional media has its constraints. Editors might want only 'happy' magazine stories on a weekend; and television may not have the time to explore a 'hard' issue indepth. New media offers us immense new possibilities -- its immediacy, interactive-ness, infinite reach, make it a truly democratic medium that puts power in the hands of the user like never before.

As a communication-for-development professional and media advocate I am excited about learning ways the medium can be used for greater visibility to some of the biggest problems of the world.

While I am at it the behaviour I need to change within myself is to establish a discipline for writing regularly. Much as the athlete who must jog every day to train, the writer must practice writing every day. It seems only a deadline makes me deliver. Being a Voices of Our Future Correspondent will help me write with discipline and refine my skill as a writer. Being mentored by inspiring courageous women will help me discover my own potential. Over the last few weeks I have immensely enjoyed doing these exercises. Clearly, using writing as a tool for contemplation and giving expression helps us delve deep into inner wisdom. Sharing and interacting with like-minded women from across the world, and hear their feedback, cheers us on. It is reassuring to feel understood, as much as it helps us bond and celebrate diversity.

I am excited about the possibility of interacting with the wonderful, courageous, inspiring women I see here. I am also looking forward to finding a stronger voice for myself and the people I write and care about.