Program Reviews

It's taken me a while to process what happened to me in Campeche and on the Usamacinta river, hence this unpunctual review. I volunteered with Ninth Wave just after joining a consultancy in London focused on the built environment; I wanted to get to the lowest levels of how the built environment, conservation and community led planning work in other parts of the world, starting with Mexico.

After a thousand sweeps of the paddle we moored for lunch - I found the turtle shell by a tree stump and put it in my bag, for reasons unknown. This turtle shell is on my desk today and, counterintuitively, it reminds me not of fallen reptiles but of the coconut shells we were all handed by Jon and Amy after a workshop. We proceeded to eat from the shells for the entirety of my stay with Ninth Wave. Simple things, simple outcomes. Constant reminders, constant action.

After a thousand more sweeps of the paddle, we'd seen not just one kingfisher but thirty. Where I'm from, the kingfisher is an elusive, almost otherworldly sight in the same cadre as ghosts or snow leopards. But on the Usamacinta, this crown prince of birds becomes run of the mill. In my then consultancy practice, this constantly reminded me of how what we deem to be elusive is often localised. Drilling down and talking to the people (not the boots) on the ground is the only way to filter the elusive from the obvious.

I confess: I'm not the greatest orator in any language - but especially not in Spanish. But an evening (after I'd stopped counting sweeps of the paddle) eating, jesting and listening to a man play guitar while a fire roared (lit by a Tiger) on the riverbank was the closest thing I've felt to unconditional inclusivity. This seems to be a hallmark of Ninth Wave.

I could wax around and about the individual indigenous communities we all helped, the side quests, the dogs, the cats, the ambulance service in Frontera Corozal and the spectre, then surprising joy, of lashing together canoes and paddling in pitch darkness. But I suspect that you’ll find out about those yourself. What I will wax about is a mantra that Amy said to us during an introductory sustainability workshop: “Don’t do nothing because you can’t do everything”.

Eventually, these eight words led away from the master planned built environment to focus on smaller, localised projects that champion filtering the elusive from the obvious. As it turns out, all it takes is effort, time and a man playing the guitar. What it does not take is masterplans, decks and circling back. Having said that, I really hope I can circle back to Campeche at some time soon.

My time with Ninth Wave Global was my first step into journalism, and one I'm very glad I took. This internship programme's approach to exploration and story-finding is genuinely unique and inspiring.

Coming from a scientific background, I found the feedback and mentorship particularly valuable for learning how to convey a compelling narrative and connect with an audience. The experience is highly self-determined, which I appreciated. If you are willing to take initiative there is huge potential to build a strong journalistic portfolio. Ninth Wave's links to local news outlets offered a great stepping off point, before then pitching to wider outlets in the US and South America (and taking on paid writing opportunities).

The trips I took through Ninth Wave, both within Mexico and abroad, were particularly memorable and interesting. These were often guided by chance interactions with local people and organisations, resulting in richer and more purposeful journeys. Beyond writing, I gained hands-on experience in interviewing, pitching, and documentary production. Overall, I would highly recommend this programme as a strong foundation for aspiring journalists.

When I arrived in Campeche, I came to Jon as a published journalist with a proven ability to string words together for an audience. But writing for myself, to communicate bigger ideas, remained excruciating. The stories I wrote fell short of their potential and I struggled to find a process that compelled me to write better.

One afternoon, with all thirty pages of my drafting, splayed out in front of us, Jon began to teach me to be my own editor. I learned to take space from my writing and read it more critically. Together, Jon and I would review each sentence I wrote for not just its word choice and grammar but for its cadence and tone–the features that make some writing sing where others drone on. Jon taught me that we write, not in service of our idea but in service of the piece itself. That I must listen to the direction of the piece as much as I define it.

In a world where writing is so often taught as a science, with its grammar laws and formulaic sentence structures, I believe there is no place better for the budding writer to hone your craft than a few weeks in a small Mexican city under the guidance of Jon and Ninth Wave.

This isn't just any filmmaking mentorship, as it takes you right out into the field with real and amazing people, to stunning locations, alongside the filmmaking. The team is so supportive and experienced, and take you through everything from cameras to angles and lenses, to interviews, editing, and even onto strategies and tips for getting the best response from film festivals. It's an amazing entry point into the industry, and one which has been invaluable to me as I start out. I finished the program 6 months ago and the team are still helping me! Really beautiful people, in what is a unique opportunity for anyone curious about a possible career in the industry.

I had already tried to work in journalism prior to this placement, but it was a thankless task, with no-one offering practical and useful guidance, and I kept getting knockbacks (or just ignored), so I thought I would give things one more try through Ninth Wave, through the recommendation of a friend. And - honestly - it was like the fog lifted. Everything suddenly made sense. The team of professional journalists were there to guide me personally thtough everything, and not only did my writing improve immeasureably in a short time, but their guidance in how to connect with editors and magazines means that I now have a number of published articles to my name and know exactly what I need to do to keep the momentum going. I couldn't recommend this program more highly.

Ninth Wave’s Environmental Journalism program brought values and ethics into the heart of an industry which I had always struggled with, as well as giving me all the tools and practical support I needed to get writing for magazines whilst at the same time not feeling that I had to compromise my values.

The personalized program guides you right through from inception of articles, through to writing and editing, and how to successfully reach out to editors and magazines, and not only get responses, but successful commissions. The team support is led by professionals who are also deeply human and engaged and energized by helping you really take things forward. I couldn’t recommend this program enough if I tried/

One of the best decisions I have ever made was embarking on a journey with Ninth Wave, accompanying journalist Jon Bonfiglio and filmmaker Graeme Rogers on a filmmaking internship that took us from Oregon to New Mexico. The experience encouraged me to pursue filmmaking as a career, shaped by the stories I heard and told, the skills I gained, and the confidence instilled in me along the way. I encountered breathtaking landscapes and remarkable people-from filming with an inspirational Freedom Rider of the 1960s to staying with an Indigenous LGBTQI+ activist in the Navajo Nation. These experiences reignited my love of storytelling, especially when it is rooted in beautiful cultures and nature-not through forced narratives or fleeting encounters, but through the unfolding of chance meetings and the building of genuine relationships. The journey was filled with inspiration and excitement, and I recommend it to anyone seeking an unforgettable experience. Through these experiences, I learned as much about myself as I did about others. It truly was an experience of a lifetime.

Working with journalists at Ninth Wave was an incredible experience, partly because of the access and guidance from the people involved, but also because of how connected and embedded they are in their communities. Not only did the placement give me the skills and knowledge to be able to begin a career in journalism, but it also taught me that journalism can also be done differently and doesn't have to take stories away from people, but can be a socially useful tool also. I would highly recommend this placement for anyone considering entering the world of writing and journalism - it's a must!

It's hard these days to find someone who is willing to push you to the limits of your own potential. With political correctness in the picture, many environments have become inhospitable, or limiting to internal growth.
My experience with Ninth Wave encourages me because the people are very supportive of my grow and the environment is challenging enough to be pushed to the limits. I specifically want to mention, that I never heard a negative thing about the things I wrote and edited. The feedback is always focused on what is good and how can you grow the good parts. That way of feedback has been not only extremely productive, but specifically fun to work with.
I've been publishing many articles, set up a website and producing and editing Videos which all has been particularly hepful for my carreer.
I'm focused on my personal growth and see the productive work as result of my inner journey.
If you want to grow in an environment that doesn't tell you what to think but how to think you're in the right place.

Ninth Wave Global was recommended to me by a good friend who himself participated in a program of the organisation. Before my departure to Mexico, I was a very inexperienced writer wanting to learn while gaining practical experience and building a high-quality portfolio of work. And what can I say, I got even more than I could have imagined. I was invited to work on a podcast and helped at every step developing my writing and broadcasting skills. I was given the opportunity to travel multiple countries in the region and went from zero Spanish to a language level I am very confident in by now. But one of the most important things for me was the atmosphere and spirit within the team and the deep trust I developed in my own skills and in my fellow peers, creating countless synergies within our group. Further, Ninth Wave gave me a completely new understanding of the importance and history of indigenous people in the broader region, as I was fortunate enough to visit remote communities in Yucatan. The amount and type of knowledge I got a glimpse at is astonishing and brought up to some uncomfortable questions in me about myself, my culture and country.
So, for everybody interested in writing, journalism, broadcasting, exploring and much more, I highly recommend an internship at Ninth Wave Global, it is worth every single penny.