Kids talk conflict and peace on Robben Island

Staff Reporter
24 November 2006

Bush Radio's annual media conference takes place next month, from the 6th to 10th December. This year the conference will be held, in partnership with the Robben Island Museum, on the island.

The 2006 Media Kidocracy Konference aims to encourage children between the ages of 12 and 18 to become involved in the media and talk about the issues that affect their lives, under the theme: 'Conflict and Peace Building'.

To coincide with the Kidocracy Konference, Bush Radio's Children's Radio Education Workshop (CREW) project turns ten this year. The CREW (made up of three groups: tots, kids and teens) have their own radio programmes every Saturday morning. At the conference, they will act as hosts and mini-facilitators to their young colleagues from within the region, and as far afield as Canada and Cambodia.

"Robben Island Museum the ideal setting in which the young participants can network and seek solutions to challenges facing today's children and the youth," said co-ordinator Nashira Abrahams, who also happens to be a member of Bush Radio's very first CREW group.

This is the 7th Kidocracy Konference. A highlight of previous conferences was the International Children and Youth Radio Manifesto (which was drawn up by the young participants), was accepted at a UN sitting in 2004.

Bush Radio's breakfast presenter Victor J will host his show, It's All Good, live from the island for the duration of the conference.