Youths share their experiences

Because Plan is a child centered community development organisation, child participationis central to all our activities. The youths who participated to the forum were given a chance to share this experience in their own words.

A youth chronicle of ougadougou's forum

Michel, a young reporter from Plan Media programme narrates his experience of the Ougadougou forum: “Participants were looking at us with a lot of surprise, sometimes amusement or astonishment the children handing their recorder! Some of them thought we were funny, others were filled with admiration and others took time to talk with us.

The journalists treated us harshly when we had to interview high officials like the President of Burkina Faso, taking shots! But anyhow, one must fight hard to get to the information one needs.
We were at this forum in the name of the children of Africa, to recall to everyone that children should have their place in the media. We should be heard in development actions, whether it bothers those who do not agree with us! In any case, for a more responsible world tomorrow, the leaders should very soon measure the importance of having children seen and heard.

The Ouagadougou’s forum will have raise awareness in the importance of giving everyone a chance to be heard. As for us children, we hope that the leaders of this world will take into account the road map signed both by the Commission of the African Union and the European Commission.
We are aware that as children and teenagers we will gain from its actual implementation.
Nevertheless web ring to the attention of each and everyone on major issues: equal access for all in public discussions; the creation of close Media broadcasting and Press, Education of children to media awareness, freedom of the media and its people, the responsibility of journalists in data processing.”

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Media & Development forum: What I have learned.

Rachidiatou
“The media play a role in the development through information they circulate and the awareness of the population that goes with it. There cannot be good governance without the media.

Rachidiatou
“The media play a role in the development through information they circulate and the awareness of the population that goes with it. There cannot be good governance without the media.

Radio is the most reliable medium in terms of development because of it’s proximity to the population. This development requires free media professionals; and these people have to be defenders of the truth.

In order for media to play there role, media professionals need quality training. It also appears the private media encounters serious challenges, and that some social groups are not taken into consideration in the media area: Children, adolescents, women; disabled persons.

They have, nevertheless, a major role to play in the media space and in the development process. We then have to offer them opportunities to express their opinion. We also have to support technically and financially, the local media through which children have more chance to express themselves and make their contribution in this development process.”