ZigZag Academy provides online journalism training for young Iranians and Afghans. These pictures, taken by trainees, reflect the key values of the BBC World Service Trust project

The training enables them to engage critically with other reporting and media organisations

Trainees contribute to articles, podcasts and packages, giving them a chance to be published and build a portfolio

ZigZag is an opportunity for trainees to support each other in a collaborative environment and to address issues that matter to them and their society

Incorporating new ideas that the participants bring to the project keeps the training contemporary and dynamic

As well as completing the online modules, ZigZag trainees are required to interact and learn together, using instant messenger, the forum and the blog

Teamworking is key to the future of ZigZag, as gradually the community will assume ownership of the project

Trainees comment on each other’s assignments and share one-to-one feedback from their mentors

ZigZag promotes journalism with high professional standards