Youth Reporters team in Zambia wins first place in World Radio Day contest sponsored by UNESCO

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (May 6, 2019) — A team of young journalists in the central African Republic of Zambia from Children International, a global humanitarian nonprofit, has won first place in an annual contest sponsored by World Radio Day and UNESCO, the United Nations organization that promotes world peace.

Children International, which brings people together to eradicate poverty among families and children worldwide, established its Youth Reporters program five years ago. The initiative gives youth in Zambia, Philippines, Colombia and Ecuador the opportunity to have their voices heard, training them to develop writing, interviewing, photography and video production skills. The eighth edition of World Radio Day, officially held in February, celebrated the theme of “Dialogue, Tolerance and Peace.” The competition recognized broadcasts over the past year that have raised awareness of global issues and have provided a “platform for dialogue and democratic debate.” The nearly two-minute winning broadcast from Children International’s Zambian youth reporters captures the voices of young journalists explaining how radio can serve as an “agent of change” in uniting people around the world.

“Radio draws people from different backgrounds, different understandings (and) different programs that happen in our communities,” one youth journalist says. “At the end of the day, what we are trying to create is a global village where people come together to address various issues affecting this community (such as) teen pregnancy and drug abuse.” Says another young reporter, “Radio has provided a platform for peace creation despite the various differences we may have.”

“We are incredibly proud of our young journalists in Zambia as well as the children and youth we serve around the world,” said Susana Eshleman, president and CEO of Children International. “Through our Youth Reporters program, we teach young people valuable communication and life skills they can use in their future careers.

“As they develop stories, audio and video about real-life triumphs and truths in their own communities, they also learn that their ‘voices’ have value,” Eshleman said. “Others truly care about what they have to say and can be moved to action. It’s an incredible lesson of empowerment, and one that can help pave a path to employment as well.”

In partnership with its supporters, Children International works to end poverty for good by providing a long-term, holistic approach to invest in the lives of youth. The nonprofit operates 67 community centers in 10 countries, from Colombia to Zambia, with more than 9,000 volunteer and local staff who coordinate programs aimed at breaking the cycle of poverty.