(CNN)A new reality TV craze is sweeping Liberia, with tens of thousands voting for their heroes and an intense debate surrounding their merits.
But the recipients of their votes are not singing ballads or performing stunts. They are checking school registers and fighting ebola.
Following this sudden success, Integrity Idol moved on to Liberia in 2015, and this year it debuts in Mali and Pakistan. "It works because it captures the public imagination," says Glencorse. "Much of the conversation about corruption is negative (whereas) this conversation offers a sense of hope of a different reality that is very appealing."
Building momentum Accountability Lab have worked hard to get the show off the ground in Liberia, dispatching volunteers to every county, where they comb government offices and tea shops for nominees. From the nominations, the team curates a shortlist of around 40, which is then further narrowed to five finalists by an expert panel of judges. The NGO then visits the finalists and produces short films showcasing their work -- from the district education officer walking seven miles to work unpaid, to the court clerk who provides free water to his neighbors. The final edits are currently underway ahead of broadcasting the final, which is expected to prove an even larger event than last year following intensive social media outreach and promotion through Liberian celebrities. The 2015 winner, nurse Jugbeh Kekula, has become a celebrity herself.
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