Children are the cradle of life_ Radio Kwizera FM_ 04 August 2016

Name of Story: Children are the cradle of life

Name of station: Radio Kwizera FM

country: Tanzania

Date: 04 August 2016

FUNGUKAMWANAKWETU_AuleriaGabriel_042016.mp3

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(Untitled)

Synopsis (300 words)

Brief description of the item of work you submitted and motivation of why it is a good example of gender awareness and sensitivity in advancing gender equality Post-2015. For three years, Anatoria (not her real name), 13, has been staying with her uncle in Mubuhenge village, North Western Tanzania. She does not receive the very basics of life like clothing and a balanced diet, and she is punished corporally. I tell Anatoria’s story and that of many other children whom foster parents in Tanzania, and several parts of Africa raise.

After getting a glimpse into several such cases, am inspired to tell the story of such children, to let them be heard, so that their rural communities can take action and make their lives worth living. Am moved further to tell these stories because they are not foreign to me, having been born and brought up in these communities, their experiences are a continuous mirror of my own childhood.

Children are the cradle of life. Children who are not raised in child friendly environments are likely not to have a fulfilled and purposeful life in their adult age, even more when these concern female children. This touches directly on gender issues.

Communities that do not give the girl child an opportunity to actualize their selves are more likely to be even more repressive to women. This could apply across the gender divide on an equal note to communities that do not empower the male gender, although in my community and those surrounding women, girls and we are more affected. These stories are meant to elicit dialogue, critical reflection and open discourse on the dignity of community members who are disadvantaged, especially women, who draw their livelihoods from these same communities, get their identities therein, and form an important pillar to the existence and sustenance of those same communities.

These stories intend to emphasize that women are equally citizens of our common home; our world.

Background (200 words)

Why did you produce the story? What problem or context is it responding to?

I produced this story because I felt the obligation to highlight the daily stories as pertains to the girl child that is often overlooked by the community. Although I cannot directly change the status quo, I am able, by highlighting the plight of the weak, to stir dialogue in the community that can ignite change at a given pace. The state of children in several parts of Tanzania is utterly deplorable, and the need to bring to the fore that which everyone else ordinarily sees yet chooses not to talk about is a necessity in our own time.

I strive to respond to cases that have been here with us for decades; and evidently longer, but those that have formed the general pace of life of the people yet dehumanize others, especially young women and girls

Key objectives (100 words)

What did you hope to achieve with this coverage?

The particular objective of this program was to help reunite Anatoria with her mother, where she would be safer. On a general note, the program intends to begin a dialogue about the plight of children in a community where children have their own place, a place that is not safe for their upbringing. In doing this, it is intended that a larger spectrum of the community will be tagged into this dialogue to include the local authorities, community gatekeepers, among other players.

Target audience (200 words)

Whom did you hope to reach? Did you succeed in reaching this audience? What evidence do you have to that effect?

I hoped to reach parents, and the general rural community. On a basic assessment, I succeeded in reaching my audience because of the relevance of the program and the wide reach of the radio station. Feedback from listeners both upon airing and on social media is evidence for such reach. I append some responses here in

• Joseph Michael […] kwanza hongera Sana Kwa uwezo wako WA ziada katika maandalizi Na sauti yako.lkn pia utetezi WA

Haki za watto wetu…ANATORIA ameonekana kukosa furaha ya Maisha yake Na matumaini pia,…….s/m mguhenge anayosoma anaonesha kutoipenda kwasababu ana hofu Na akiamini kwao mwanza angeweza kupata msaada

Zaidi……….Nguo kuchanika/kuchakaa/chakavu zinapunguza mudi yake katika masomo.

Kukatia nyasi ng’ombe wezake wakiwa katika masomo ya ziada……

Imeniumiza sanaaaaa asant Kwa kutujiza my sister Auleria Gabriel (Facebook, July 5 2016, 4:04pm)

• Hongera Sana Kwa makala nzuri, hata machozi yamenitoka daa ukatili huu ila Ni funzo Na somo kubwa. (Godlove Ernest )

Through sms July 5 2016, 2:59pm

How did you go about producing the programme?

How did you gather the data, how many sources, female and male did you consult? Why did you choose these sources and how were their voices important?

I borrowed the data from UNICEF, which works from which works in various parts of Tanzania and therefore publishes periodical data on the situation of children in Tanzania. My sources were drawn from various sectors of the community, from tip offs to informant who have direct contact with the child whose story I was pursuing, in this particular program, I engaged 6 males and 6 females.

These sources are the right people to engage in this program because they hold a niche and have the power to influence the population because of their authority.

Feedback (300 words)

What impact did it have? What evidence do you have to illustrate impact?

Please provide any examples of feedback that you received from the articles (from websites, letters, etc.)

The direct impact of this program, the episode attached here specifically is that by the time this is written, Anatoria is re-united with her mother and is in school. Beyond this, there is evidence of community involvement that can be induced from the responses. Although this impact cannot be quantified, the steady flow of information on the plight of children in the community is evidence of impact. Appended is a message from a concerned citizen about an abandoned family.

• Asante Mtangazaji makala hii imetufundisha mengi, hata hapa Nyakanazi kuna baba ametelekeza familia yake ya watoto Saba akakimbilia Geita Na hadi sasa hawana pa kwenda tusaidie katika Funguka mwana kwetu. (Anonymous) Through Sms

May 6 2016, 2.31pm

Attach all relevant feedback documentation here:

Follow up (300 words)

How would you conduct a follow up to your story and why?

Constant channels of communication is the most appropriate way of keeping follow up with the beneficiaries of this and similar broadcasts. Therefore, l do communicate frequently with Anatoria’s mother to know her progress.

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