Giving them voice

In an attempt to give a platform to children and youngsters to express themselves freely,West Bengal office of the UNICEF and Sanlaap,an organisation working for the empowerment of youth in the state,have decided to come up with a monthly newsletter ‘Youth speak’. This four-page newsletter which will be totally compiled and edited by an editorial board of children and youth from 14 to 24 years of age.

The newsletter Youth speak will contain issues which will range from creative expression of the young mind,their views on contemporary issues and will also reflect issues like violation of the rights of the children and children and difficulty faced by them.

“It is must that we listen to the children. It is important to know what they feel and how they think that the programmes and the initiatives can be directed to them,” said Indrani Sinha,director of Sanlaap at the official launch of Youth speak early this week.

She streesed that in her organisation children were always being consulted in even small matters from what they want to eat from how the cultural activities will be organised. According to the the representatives of the voluntary organisation this newsletter is an extension of the rights of the children where they can express their view.

The editorial team consists of six young minds Amit Ghosh,Santoshi Singh,Ajay Thakur,Suraj Prasad,Rahul Goswami and Debashree Naskar. These children have been gioven the task to develop the cntent of the four page newsletter which they wish they will collect from various drop in centers where children from various vulnerable communities,who are facing deprivation and abuse com to get some life skill training.

“We want that the children should come up with little poems,write ups skeches. We will collect these from our drop in centers and also from the shelter homes,” said Rahool Goswami,one of the children of the editorial staff. The young editorial team alo plans to collect the writeup sketches poems from schools to give children from different background a similar platform.

In the first edition of the newsletter Youthspeak Santoshi Singh,one of the editorial members writes that many people in the country say that all the children should get independence,all the ones who hae not been able to complete their studies,working on tea stalls in hotels in brick kilns. “These children do not know what is independence for them,” says Santoshi in his write up.

“Till the time a child is not 18 years of age anyone does not pay heed to what we say. Once he or she become elible to vote suddenly o their view and decision making is considered mature,” says another youth activist insisting that children should be given an opportunity to speak. Represenatives of UNICEF say that they are supporting the initiative because it goes on with the idea of giviong the children a platform to express. “We have been encouraging the children by intiating them to photography,giving them the idea of making a short video film and the Youthspeak in a similar attempt to empower the children,” said a representative of the state office of UNICEF.

Moreover activist working with children also feel that giving a chance to child to express themselves helps children gain confidence and introspect them and take challenges in life. Many associated with the initiative say that this is a very brave attempt to help the children to express themselves.