Media and Children - Madagascar

The project held a workshop where a group of 40 young people were taught how to collect news and create their own newspaper. The children came from four regions of Madagascar: Antanananarivo, Fianarantsoa, Mahajanga and Toamasina. They spent two days together in groups of ten, learning from newspaper professionals about how to put a newspaper together.

The Malagasy Daily and the Gazetiko's Editor-in-Chief guided the children through a typical day at the press. They were also treated to professional photographers, cartoonists and journalists. UNICEF's representative to Madagascar, Barbara Bentein, said "By exposing young people to media processes and encouraging them to create their own newspapers, we are not only realising their right to expression and participation, but hopefully we are also creating a generation of vocal citizens!"

The workshop gave the children a mandate to monitor how the media reflects children's issues. Each group agreed to produce a newspaper highlighting what they think is important, as well as to study how the press covers children rights (through an annual subscription to a newspaper of their choice). Each group received a trunk full of newspaper supplies. A feedback session with media professionals and the children will be organised at the end of the year.

To ensure that each group of children receives quality facilitation from adults, UNICEF organised a parallel training for the four group mentors, with the help of a child psychologist and participation expert. The training aims to ensure that mentors understand the importance of children's participation and that they have the tools and guidelines to promote free expression, without directing or censoring the children.

Children, Youth

The project aims to help the children to create their own newspaper that talks about issues that affect them.