Nicaragua Celebrates the ICDB

(Post includes videos.)

Nicaragua doesn’t just celebrate the ICDB with a token show with youth presenters.  UNICEF Nicaragua has transformed the ICDB into a multi-event initiative that integrates culture and social issues for youth and adolescents.    Community Officer Guiselle Alemán Ayala explains that over the past 9 years in Nicaragua, the ICDB “has become a day of social mobilization to put on the public agenda topics of interest of children and adolescents throughout the country.”  The ICDB celebrations include their annual Festival of Radio and TV and, in 2011, the Artists and Friends Concert for Children.  (Because of other logistics, Nicaragua was unable to celebrate the ICDB on 6 March and instead held their comprehensive events over the month of September.)

She shared this video, which shows UNICEF’s multi-faceted approach to the ICDB this past year:

UNICEF Ends Global ICDB but Encourages Broadcasters to Keep the Spirit Alive

In 2011, UNICEF marked the 20th Anniversary of its International Children’s Day of Broadcasting initiative.  The initiative, which began as a way to get broadcasters to devote airtime to children’s issues, has grown over the years to become a celebration of young people’s participation in the media.  Along the way, it has inspired the development of quality children’s programming, regularly-programmed youth-led television and radio shows and a multitude of special events.  We have seen it embraced by both high-level private stations to public broadcasters in the smallest of countries.

Today we celebrate what the initiative has been able to accomplish and announce the end of this wonderful ICDB initiative.  From the feedback we’ve received, it is clear that the ICDB has accomplished its goals of getting better quality programming and a dedication from broadcasters to devote more attention to young people.  At this stage, with the shift in the media landscape and the excellent developments that the ICDB has produced, it makes sense to declare the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting a success.

India and Togo take the 2012 ICDB Awards

Congratulations to All India Radio and Télévision Togolaise for winning the 2011 International Children’s Day of Broadasting Awards for Radio and Television, respectively.

The winners were announced on 5 December on the special edition “ICDB Awards” website.  Also honored was ATN Bangla, for its long-standing commitment to youth and television.

Read more about the winners’ programming on the Awards website.  Congratulations to all!

UNICEF Launches New ICDB Awards Site

Check out the new website for the 2011 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting Awards.  You can read about the nominated broadcasters, their programmes and their approach to youth and media, as well as watch clips from their nominated ICDB programmes.

Winners will be announced 5 December 2011.

UNICEF Announces Regional ICDB Awards and Nominees

UNICEF is proud to announce the nominees for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Awards.  The awards are given by UNICEF for outstanding commitment to the ICDB by television and radio broadcasters.

This year’s nominees come from Andorra, Bangladesh, Benin, China, India, Iran, Mexico, Nepal, South Africa, Togo and Uganda and represent the best work produced in 2011 for the International Children’s Day of Broadcasting.  The nominees each won a regional competition and now go on to compete for global honours.

The winner of the 2011 ICDB Awards will be announced by UNICEF Headquarters in New York on 5 December 2011.

Small country, big voices

A report from Hèctor Encuentra, of UNICEF Andorra:

This year, Radio Ser Andorra joined in the ICDB initiative.

Radio Ser Andorra not only participated during the ICDB but also makes a space for youth throughout the year.

Radio Ser Andorra is a national radio belonging to the international “Prisa Media Group” and has a daily magazine called “l’Hora L”  (the L Hour) presented and directed by Esther Pons.  On this magazine show, every Tuesday a group of youths of Andorra aged between 15 to 20 have their own space called “Ik +” (“And, what’s more…”).

This youth space is about current issues that young people consider important and is a place where they can exercise their right to express their views and be heard. Young people in the program get to interview professionals, technicians, politicians, etc… of Andorra.  The youth ask questions, share opinions and interact, which enables them to form a clear view and objective of the issues that concern them.

During the special ICDB episode, the youth discussed the theme of the ICDB (Girls Are… Boys Are…) and also talked about adolescence, which was the subject of this year’s State of World’s Children report.

The youth participants and the radio station plan to present this Magazine to the ICDB awards so that they can show to all the youth of the world that “young people of a little country like Andorra also have voice”.

300 children take part in Sierra Leone

A report from Issa Davies, Communication Officer in Sierra Leone:

A total of 13 radio stations from the four provinces in Sierra Leone, one television station and one children and youth media and musical group took part in the ICDB this year.

20 children were involved at each of the stations and media/musical group. This means 300 children took part in this year’s ICDB event in Sierra Leone.

Most of the radio programmes were talk shows comprised of children themselves, radio dramas and phone-ins. One was a musical review by the children/youth artists and there was a short television documentary.

The theme, “Girls are, Boys are…” was stretched to cover various advocacy issues on child rights, responsibilities and development such as:

• equal opportunities and access to quality education for both boys and girls
• every girl as well as boys should be protected from violence, child labour and exploitation
• teenage pregnancy keeps girls away from school
• improve children’s access to free health care services
• boys and girls should have access to information to prevent HIV
• we boys and girls should prevent diarrhoea by washing our hands with running water and soap before meals and after using the toilets

Bhutan broadcasters reach out across the nation

An activity report from UNICEF Bhutan Communication officer Tobgye Tobgye:

ICDB was celebrated with participation of children from different parts of Bhutan, involving themselves to reflect and express their voices and opinions. ICDB was celebrated on Bhutan Broadcasting Service, the national Television and radio station and Kuzoo FM as the two stations have nationwide coverage.

In line with the international theme “Girls are… Boys are….” Bhutan Broadcasting Service Corporation (BBSC) radio/TV and Kuzoo FM observed the day with participation of children (Girls/Boys) on the stated theme in Bhutan context.

ICDB activity highlighted in news

Bulawayo 24 has a short story about ZBC (Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation) and its ICDB programming.

FOROYAA Online features a story from the National News that highlights the reactions of young people.

Mozambique Gets Children on the Air

Mozambique has had a long history of celebrating the ICDB and has year-round quality youth media presence, especially through its child-to-child radio program. Here, a report from Sébastien Taylor in the UNICEF office in Maputo:

On Sunday March 6, UNICEF Mozambique celebrated the ICDB, a day when broadcasters around the world “tune in to kids”, airing quality programming by children, for children and about children. Above all, children are allowed to be part of the programming and production process, giving them an opportunity to talk about their hopes and dreams and providing space to share information and exchange views with their peers in other parts of the world. The focus of this year’s ICDB was on issues of gender inclusion and equality, and the day also opened the doors for media channels to take a closer look at what kind of images and stereotypes they are putting on air and how children perceive them. The day was also an opportunity for girls and boys to talk about who they are as individuals and about what is expected of them as in their societies.