African Youth Channel to Launch on the ICDB

ABC – A Pan African Children and Youth Channel will launch on 7 March 2010 (The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting) in Lagos, Nigeria. It will launch on the MiTV Platforms of radio and television and be syndicated to all Nigerian networks.

The press release says “ABC will focus on high-quality media for children and youth in Africa and the Diaspora…In keeping with the Africa Charter on Children’s Broadcasting, ABC will offer diverse programming that is relevant, positive and re-affirming: information, education and entertainment.”

In honor of the ICDB, the channel will broadcast for 24 hours on its launch and then continue forward with 6 hours of youth programming on Saturdays and Sundays.

No further news yet about the channel, specific programming and hours or availability in other markets.

TRAXXfm in Malaysia trains youth DJs and producers

Rohani Harithuddin, station manager for TRAXXfm radio station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, shares their upcoming plans for the ICDB 2010 celebration on 7 March. An ICDB 2009 award nominee, TRAXXfm airs programming that caters to a younger audience from 10pm onwards. After participating in the ICDB awards events in New York last year, Harithuddin returned to  Kuala Lumpur with ideas on how to deepen her station’s approach to youth programs and how to get young people  involved in production. We are excited to hear the results of their planning!

“TRAXXfm is participating in the ICDB again this year. As planned, the station is embarking on a road tour beginning the 19th February. During the tour we will be conducting radio DJ workshops for children! We would like to explore what things that they think a lot about and would want everybody to know. This time, all of the aspects of the production will be done by the children themselves.”

To learn more, visit TRAXXfm’s website: http://www.traxxfm.net/.

Curious Minds Still Curious in Ghana

The Curious Minds show on Ghana National Broadcasting (GNB) is an excellent example of getting youth not only involved in media but at the forefront of broadcasting. The station has been nominated two years in a row for the ICDB Awards and won the global ICDB Award in 2008.

Producer Kingsley Obeng-Kyereh updates us on their lead up and plans for the 2010 ICDB in Ghana.

“Earlier on in January, we started the preparatory process with a series of interviews of a number of children in some of the deprived communities in Accra in relation to what they thought about their rights.

Last Saturday was the first in the series of programmes leading to the celebration as we looked at female genital mutilation and its negative impact on girls. We were examining what can be done to completely end the practice. This year, we’re including the duty bearers who have the responsibility to ensure that the rights of young people are respected. We have already paid a visit to the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit to see how abused ones are handled.

A lot more programmes are lined up as we hype the day and get all to be conscious of the day and more importantly to see what we can all do to help children irrespective of their background to see the impact of the existence of the convention.

We wish you all the best as we all join hands once again to get the concerns of young people heard for the necessary remedial measures.”

Advice on motivating children?

We just received a comment from Robert in Uganda who produces a children’s program on Kitti 99.2 FM who is wondering about outreach in rural areas and getting kids motivated. Maybe some folks can offer up some advice?…

“Hi, I am Robert producing the children programme on kitti 99.2 fm kitgum Uganda. I must congratulate UNICEF for this initiative of broadcast and I must say you should continue. We in the north have taken it to another level and find it interesting and now the children have the ability to participate in children programs actively. Our problem still remains how to link up with these kids in far-to-reach areas and how to motivate them. We are trying to come up with the criteria of handling it but if there are those that have met such challenges can you share with us? Thank you UNICEF and the partners – let’s continue to provide the children in this world a safe place to live and feel free to exercise their rights.”

You can leave a comment here if you have advice.

Nigerian Media Company Celebrates Child Rights

From Yinka Ogundimu, Program Manager at Silverbird Television/ Rhythm 93.7FM in Lagos, Nigeria:

“For us children form an integral part of the society whose rights have for long been undermined. In agreement with UNICEF’s belief in giving the children a voice, Silverbird Television and it’s sister Radio Station will be dedicating a whole week (March 1-7) to the cause of children in celebrating the ICDB.

Our studios will open to the children as they present the News and location reports and some key programs. They will anchor these programs and discuss vital issues that relate to them.

On Sunday March 7, ICDB, there will be a live broadcast of “Kids’ Portfolio,” a children’s Parliament for the children and by the children. The parliament will be a replica of the Nation’s Legislative Chambers where the children will be passing bills on fundamental issues relating to them. Some of the bills expected to be passed on the day will be on 1) girls education, 2) child labour, 3) child abuse and 4) street hawking by children.

We do sincerely believe that at the end of the week, much attention will have been drawn to the rights of the Nigerian child.”

Join the ICDB on 7 March 2010

On 7 March 2010, we invite radio and television broadcasters to celebrate the ICDB and highlight programming by, for and about children.  The theme is “All Rights All Children.”

As the Convention of the Rights of the Child (CRC) marks its 20^th anniversary, UNICEF highlights the rights that all children deserve.  Whether it is a quality education or a safe home, adequate food and drinking water or the ability to participate in society, children should get what they need to become strong members of society.

How do young people find out about their rights and responsibilities? Today, media is one of the most widely recognized ways to reach young people.  Broadcasters have the responsibility to highlight issues that face children and to open young people’s eyes to opportunities and rights that may not be known to them. 

The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) was created to give exposure to issues of children’s rights.  Over the years, it has also has become a day of celebrating young people in the media.

Youth participation and expression are also rights and are an integral part of adolescent development. Broadcasters have the chance to empower young people by giving them media skills and putting their voices on the air. This shows other young people that they too can have a voice and shows the world young people’s thoughts about their lives and communities.

Broadcasters can create special programming for the day or package existing programming as a marathon ICDB event. UNICEF can provide logos, graphics, spots and short programming to help shape and brand ICDB specials. UNICEF can also help connect broadcasters with local youth media organizations that are looking for an outlet for their television and radio productions.

In honor of the 20^th anniversary of the CRC, UNICEF calls for broadcasters around the world to invite young people into the studio and on the air to share their opinions and access their rights to media and expression. Join the network of broadcasters celebrating the ICDB in 2010 and Tune in to Kids!

ICDB Awards 2009 honour excellence in children’s broadcasting

UNICEF welcomed representatives of all 12 broadcasters nominated for the 2009 International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Awards to New York this week to celebrate their work, partake in a seminar on children’s broadcasting and youth media, and attend the 2009 ICDB Awards ceremony.

VIDEO: Watch now

Attendees at the ceremony, held last night at The Modern restaurant in mid-Manhattan, came from around the world – from television and radio stations, youth media groups and non-governmental organizations. Host SuChin Pak of MTV News congratulated the broadcasters for powerfully and positively affecting young lives.

The annual awards are given to broadcasters who support ICDB, a day set aside each year to encourage young people to get involved in television and radio broadcasting. ICDB 2009 took place in March of this year under the theme, ‘Unite for Children: Tune in to Kids.’

To read the full story, click here.

CRC video contest – deadline extended to 30 August 2009

Good news! UNICEF extended the deadline for its CRC One Minute Video Contest. Now you have a few more weeks to work on your entries for this year’s competition.  The new deadline is 30 August 2009.

We want to see what you think about child’s rights!

It’s the 20th anniversary of the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), a document that celebrates all the important rights young people have. Make a one minute video showing what child rights mean to you, whether in the world at large, your country, your community or you personally.

Watch our promo video on youtube and read more about the contest on UNICEF’s Voices of Youth website.

A youth film festival for everyone

Do you make media? Want an audience for your work? Read the latest Media Magic Digest about youth film festivals here. And read on for a list of youth film festivals all around the world.  Leave a comment and let us know about youth film festivals in your region! 

GLOBAL

Kids For Kids
International film festival featuring work by kids 6-16 years of age. A festival and event for young people and media educators, with festivals in the Balkans, the UK, and Africa.  http://www.kidsforkidsfestival.org/en

StrangerFestival
An online and offline platform for self-made videos made by young people on issues that matter to them. http://www.strangerfestival.com/

AUSTRIA

YOUKI Internationale Youth Media Festival
Platform for young Austrian filmmakers under the age of 26 and on the basis of its multicultural programming facilitates international comparison. A jury of well-known figures gives six prizes, the Youki Awards. http://www.youki.at

CANADA

The Reel Youth Film Festival (Vancouver)
Festival of Reel Youth, a non-profit youth media empowerment organization. They also put together a traveling film festival out of the winning entries, and have also done projects with youth in other countries. For youth under 19. http://www.reelyouth.ca/

YoungCuts Film Festival (Montreal)
Global network of young filmmakers and videographers under the age of 25, with annual film festival. http://www.youngcuts.com

FINLAND

Videotivoli International Video Festival for Children and Young People
International kids’ and youngsters’ film event, featuring films lasting less than 10 minutes, made by people under 16 years of age. http://www.videotivoli.fi/english09/index.htm

KENYA

Lola Kenya Screen
Lola Kenya Screen is an annual international audiovisual media movement that seeks to place production tools in the hands of children and youth for the advancement of literacy, gender equity, self expression, and democracy in their world.  http://www.lolakenyascreen.org/

KOREA

Seoul International Youth Film Festival
With week long film camp for 100 kids from around the world aged 13-18 that culminates with the festival featuring their films and films made by youth all over the world.  http://www.siyff.com/

LEBANON

Jana International Film Festival for Youth
A touring festival of Al-Jana, Arab Resource Center for the Popular Arts based in Lebanon, that promotes film made by and for youth, with an emphasis on youth-produced works.
http://www.al-jana.org/programs/ArtMediaFilms.htm

THE NETHERLANDS

CineKid Festival
Large international festival highlighting professional feature films made for children and youth between the ages of 4-14, international children’s and youth documentaries, TV productions, and new media. http://www.cinekid.nl

NORWAY

Nordic International Youth Film Festival
For young people between 15 and 25 years old. During festival they conduct workshops to teach young people how to make films.
http://www.nuff.no

PAKISTAN

Lahore International Children’s Film Festival
An annual event to showcase local and international cinema by and for children in Pakistan. The festival screen films from international and local film makers for Pakistani children, promotes children as film makers, while training them in the art of film making and exhibiting their work in the festival, and nurtures local film makers to produce films to children in Pakistan. The festival has two categories, one for youth under the age of 18 and one for other filmmakers making films for children. http://www.lahorechildrenfilm.com/

RUSSIA

St. Petersburg International Youth Film Festival
The festival is founded by ‘Insight In’ art-centre with the support of Ministry for Youth Policy of Russian Federation, Government of St. Petersburg and St. Petersburg State University of Information Technologies, Mechanics and Optics, for filmmakers under 29 years of age, with an anti racist message. http://www.iyfest.org/e_news.html 

SWITZERLAND

Castellinaria International Youth Film Festival
Features and shorts competition for children and young people 7 to 21 years old.  http://www.castellinaria.ch/

U.K. and Ireland

Breeze International Youth Film Festival (Leeds)
In addition to films, this two week-long festival includes performances, live music, master classes, and a radio show for youth in Leeds, England.
http://www.breezeleeds.org/pg/6/About_the_festival

Cinemagic Film and Television Festival for Young People
Industry-geared film festival for UK and Irish filmmakers and actors under 25 with programming around skills building. http://www.cinemagic.org.uk/ 

Fresh Film Festival (Limerick)
National competition for Irish youth aged 6-17, and includes a 60 second category.  http://www.freshfilmfestival.net/about.html

Showcomotion Young People’s Film Festival (Sheffield)
Children and young people 2-19; films made by children and young people, films made for children and young people, shorts, animation, UNICEF UK AWARDS: films on the theme of young people’s rights; also organizes children’s media industry conference. http://www.showcomotion.org.uk/

UNITED STATES

All Youth Film and Education Day (Sacramento, CA)
A festival of the youth media organization Tower of Youth, based in Sacramento, California. The event is combined with youth education day and features films made by youth between the ages of 13 and 20 only in Canada and the U.S.  http://www.towerofyouth.org/

Cinemakids (Austin, TX)
Organized by the Radio, Television, and Film Department at UT Austin, this is an annual 2 day event that brings together youth filmmakers under the age of 18 for screenings and production workshops.
http://rtf.utexas.edu/cinemakids/

Cine Youth Festival (Chicago, IL)
Produced by the group that puts on the Chicago International Film Festival and Cinema / Chicago, this festival features youth-made films from around the country for those under 20 years of age.
http://www.chicagofilmfestival.org/cgi-bin/WebObjects/CIFFSite.woa/wa/pages/Cine%20Youth%20Festival

Docu-Jam (NY, NY)
Held in conjunction with the Museum of Television & Radio’s “Television Documentary Festival,” Docu-Jam is a 2-hour screening of documentaries made by youth from across the country. Organized by the the Downtown Community Television organization (DCTV) based in NYC.
http://www.dctvny.org/PROGRAMS/protv/docujam_2008.html

Do It Your Damn Self!! Youth Film and Video Festival (Cambridge, MA)
Organized and curated by youth at the Cambridge Community Art Center, this is a youth media film festival showing work of filmmakers under the age of 19 from across the country.  http://www.diyds.org/

 Echo Park Film Center Youth Film Festival (Los Angles, CA)Festival featuring videos made by youth in the Echo Park Film Center youth media programs as well as youth from around the globe.
http://www.echoparkfilmcenter.org/festivals/youth-film-fest.htm

 kidsfilmfest (Brooklyn, NY) 
A festival that spawned from the Brooklyn International Film that showcases and promotes films for an audience of youth and children. http://www.kidsfilmfest.org

Reel Teens Film Festival (Woodstock, NY)
The festival of the Reel Teens Media Project, which teaches film and video skills to teenagers. The festival is for teens only, and there are cash awards in 8 categories, trophies, DVD of winning entries and a traveling festival of the winning entries. http://reelteensusa.com/home.htm

Tribeca Film Festival (NY, NY)
Tribeca provides a space for youth filmmakers in their “Urban Vision” program. A collection of youth-made films are screened throughout the year. http://www.tribecafilminstitute.org/youth/screening_series/

Youth Media Program of the Hampton’s International Film Festival (Hampton, NY)
This program of youth films is part of the Hampton’s International Film Festival. They have a created a “Golden Starfish” award, their top honor, for youth filmmakers & cash award. Organized in collaboration with Children’s Media Project. http://www.childrensmediaproject.org/

China spotlights youth voices

From Li Liu, UNICEF China:

 

This year, the China Central Television Children’s Channel produced a 30-min TV special for ICDB on the theme “Listen to me, Papa and Mama”. Nearly 100 Chinese children aged 7-14 were invited to participate in the programme, where they drew pictures with their own messages for their parents. The programme promoted children’s right to expression and explored effective communication between children and their parents.

 

China Radio International produced a 31-min special radio documentary entitled “Growing Up in China” to mark ICDB this year. The programme tells three stories featuring children of migrant workers, children living in urban areas and those in poor rural areas. Interviews were made with those children with different socio-economic backgrounds speaking about their own concerns and aspirations.

 

Radio Beijing produced a 23-min special programme called “Growing Up in Disaster” documenting the voices of children affected by the Sichuan earthquake as well as the messages from children living in other regions of China who conveyed their care and compassion to their peers living in the disaster zones. The programme also drew attention to the protection of children from disasters and emergencies. It was broadcast through Radio Beijing and other regional radio stations in China including those based in Sichuan.