WAKANYI HOFFMAN
I am a Global Citizen
Personal Statement
I am a professional creative writer and editor with postgraduate training in global citizenship education. With more than 15 years of professional experience in editorial positions, I add value to an organization that is positioned to disrupt cultural barriers through visual, oral and written forms of storytelling. I come equipped with a high intercultural intelligence, an impressive visa stamp collection on my passport and the flexibility, passion and drive to lead a publication by increasing readership through crafting compelling stories, engaging with multinational stakeholders and raising awareness of important global issues. Ready to have me on your team? Let's get in touch.
Personal Profile
I am an experienced creative writer/editor/global educator/blogger/social media strategist currently based in The Netherlands. My work is focused on producing high-level written pieces for various publications such as: non-profit organizations, education journals and lifestyle/culture magazines. I have produced and written articles for newspapers and magazines all around the world. I have also edited and reviewed children's books and regularly contribute blog posts to various online publications, including my own personal blog. I am excited to apply the experience and skills I’ve obtained in my career to manage writing projects through creative literal prose and help bring awareness on various issues to large audiences, while spearheading innovative ways of reaching the target audience. I possess a strong eye for detail and can thrive independently and in a team environment. I am social media-savvy and know just the right ways to use this resource smartly to connect with any target readers.
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Work Experience
EDITORIAL CONSULTANT, PARTNERS IN HEALTH DEVELOPMENT IN AFRICA
NOVEMBER 2019 - PRESENT
As the editor for the largest HIV-research NGO in Africa, I am tasked with editing stories collected from the field, to be put together in a monthly newsletter. I proof read and creatively rewrite human-interest stories as well as field reports for a publication with an international donor readership.
FREELANCE WRITER, DUTCH NEWS, NORTHERN TIMES
DECEMBER 2019-CURRENT
In this new position, I am a features writer for two leading English news publications based in Amsterdam and Groningen in the Netherlands. I explore topics that appeal to the large international community in the country and have been commissioned to write monthly columns by both publications.
BLOGGER, MULTICULTURAL KID BLOGS
JANUARY 2018- PRESENT
Multicultural Kid Blogs is a site dedicated to producing content in Global Citizenship Education for educators and parents around the world. I write blog posts for their monthly newsletter on raising world citizens from an African perspective. My topics of expertise are reinforced by a Masters in Development Education and Global Learning, a decade of raising four world citizens, extensive travel and living on 3 continents in 6 countries, intercultural interaction with many nationalities, a gift of conveying a message that strikes the right emotional chord with the target readers, a love of reading, writing, connecting humans and especially, connecting children.
SOCIAL MEDIA COORDINATOR, NGONG ROAD FOREST ASSOCIATION
JANUARY 2017- CURRENT
This is a community initiative for protecting the Ngong Road Forest- the only existing indigenous forest in a capital city on the entire planet. I manage our Facebook page and my roles involve mainly: posting relevant environmental content on a daily basis, increasing visibility online by inviting more members to like our page, attending meeting and collecting stories and pictures to share on our facebook page.
BOARD MEMBER, KENYA EDUCATION FUND
JULY 2007-CURRENT
I sit on the board of directors for the Kenya Education Fund, a 503(c) Non Profit Organization that sponsors the secondary education for disadvantaged children in both rural and urban communities. My roles involve: fundraising, vision planning and monitoring progress.
Contact me to discuss how I can boost your readership and add value to your cause.
Proficiencies
WRITER/CULTURE CRITIC
I have over a decade of work experience in 6 countries namely: Kenya, USA, Nepal, Philippines, Ethiopia and Thailand. While living and working in these countries as an expatriate, I wrote for local and regional magazines, contributing stories about cross-cultural lives, global nomadism, parenting international children and travel pieces too. Some of my earlier pieces can be found here: www.multiculturalkidblogs.com, http://ecs.com.np/features/discovering-kathmandu-with-a-toddler, www.medium.com, among others.
EDITOR
During my stay in Bangkok, a city with a diverse population of nationalities, I was an editor of essays and poems written by middle school students from international schools around Asia. These creative pieces were compiled into an award-winning book, a collection of short stories titled 'King of the Trees (and other poems, stories and thoughts from the middle)'.
The book can be purchased here:
http://www.lulu.com/shop/young-writers-awards-2012/king-of-the-trees/paperback/product-20157040.html?ppn=1
CREATIVE WRITING FOR CHILDREN EDUCATOR:
I am passionate about teaching children how to express themselves and to that end, I am a qualified Creative Writing for Children specialist, with a diploma from Institute of Children's Literature. I focus mainly on global stories that connect us all, thus Global Citizenship Education is the resonating theme in the storytelling workshops that I host.
Educational Experience
WHAT I’VE LEARNED SO FAR
MA, UCL (UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON)
2016-2018
I successfully completed a Master's degree program in Development Education and Global Learning and was awarded a merit for a compelling dissertation on 'the role of indigenous folktales in Africa in promoting Global Education'. This thesis topic combines my passion for storytelling, reading with young children and exploring such themes as: interculturalism, global citizenship and diversity. This is an area I feel properly educated on and with a wealth of experience, having taught reading, writing and storytelling to children in S.E Asia as well as having schooled my own four multicultural children, I feel confident that my contribution to this important subject on a global platform is greatly needed.
BA, UNITED STATES INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY- AFRICA
1999-2003
I received a first class honours BA in Journalism with a minor in International Relations. During my time in college, I edited the campus newletter and was charged with designing and developing content for the year book. In my last semester of college, I applied and won a prestigious internship opportuni9ty with Kenya's leading media house- Nation Media Group, as a reporter and later as a features writer. This internship receives applications nationwide and only two candidates qualify once every year. I was one of the qualifying interns for 1999. I reported on local and international news, and did sevral features which placed my byline in the front pages.
DIPLOMA, INSTITUTE OF CHILDREN'S LITERATURE
2007-2009
This diploma in Creative Writing for Children grants me legal rights to teach creative writing to children as a trained professional. My ongoing passion for children's literature led me to pursuing this certification and I have since conducted reading and writing workshops with children between the ages of 5-9 at major international schools in the world.
Get in Touch
Got something you’d like me to work on? Or how about a friendly chat? Contact me today.