 |
|
|
UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund |
The countrywide forum of young journalists was held recently in Zvenigorod, a city in the Moscow Region, within the framework of the "Youth: Health and Development" programme under the auspices of UNICEF.
Some 400 young journalists from 50 Russian cities came to the forum to discuss their achievements and professional issues, as well as all other points of concern for today's young people. The youngest participant was 10 years old.
Professional issues were discussed at master classes conducted by "sharks"
of journalism from Russia's leading mass media. The children prepared more than
80
publications, TV and radio programs which they presented for judgement by the
public. Proactive attitude, lack of indifference, and the desire to make the
world a better place are the traits that distinguish the future authors and
directors.
As Elena Morozova, from Penza's newspaper The Fifth Corner, writes, "young people want to live in a world where white patches are larger than black ones and look for ways to solve the real world's problems. Find yourself, help others and learn to believe that tomorrow will be better than today..."
The children see their journalistic work as an attempt to help adult people
find a way out of their daily struggle. They address acute prob
lems, trying to find solutions through discussions of different viewpoints.
Sceptical adults who believe that "all young people are indifferent, lazy
and beyond hope" would have changed their opinion if they had found themselves
in the company of these young journalists. Fortunately, such adults were not
present at the forum. The participants and activities were divided into media
sessions _ the printed press, TV, radio and the Internet, and topical sessions.
Discussions centred on prepared materials as well as on future projects.
For example, as a result of the work during the session entitled "A healthy way of living," which went ahead with the participation of Karina Vartanova, the UNICEF coordinator for the "Youth: Health and Development" programme, the main rules for writing a feature article on drug abuse were formulated. Apparently, the most usual mistake of beginning journalists is the tendency to frighten the reader or use a moralising attitude. The results of the session work will be summed up later in a specially prepared digest to guide journalists writing on social issues.
At other sessions, the discussion centred around the following topics: "Children Are Also Human Beings and Have Rights," "Teenager in Danger" and "The Culture of the World." The forum's participants also discussed children's rights, attitude to law and order, the problems of HIV/AIDS and of drug abuse and loads of other burning issues.
And another achievement! More than 2,000 litres of juice were consumed by young journalists working at the forum.
Zvenigorod was the place to where some 400 young journalists from 50 Russian
cities came to take part in the forum
Our photoshop
|
A roundtable "The Status of the Elderly in Russia: Autumn is the Season
of Life" was organized at the UN Information Center in Moscow as part of
activities within the framework of the International Day of the Elderly. Some
40 people representing Russian Government bodies, citizen organizations, academia,
UN agencies in Russia and the media attended the event. The participants discussed
the situation of the older generation in Russia, i.e., government policies,
public attitudes, NGOs' activities and prospects for the future. They also focused
on UN guiding principles vis-a-vis the elderly and on related activities of
UN agencies in Russia. A special kit containing promotional materials of UNDP,
ILO and other UN agencies concerned with the elderly was distributed among the
participants in the event.
|
Within the framework of the Vulnerable Children programme, the UN Children's
Fund mantains close cooperation with the government of the Moscow Region. Seven
regional boarding schools for mentally and physically handicapped children receive
regular financial and methodological help from UNICEF.
It is impossible to solve all problems in an instant. There are simply too many _ old buildings badly in need of repair, lack of equipment for school sewing workshops, the carpenter's and metalworker's shops, and so on. Unfortunately, this list makes for very long reading. One more item on this list could well be "isolation from culture."
Consequently a concert of the children's pop group Neposedy, or Lively People, became a big event. The concert was organised at the Uvarovka Boarding School for children with mental and physical disabilities on the UNICEF's initiative. Neposedy are no strangers to concert tours, but the concert in Uvarovka was an outstanding event for them, too. For the first time, it seems, they came into contact with peers suffering a much less fortune and fate. Regrettably, the diagnosis of most of the children from the Uvarovka Boarding School rules out any normal way of living and healthy development. Yet, all of them are easily teachable; the girls like to sew and are very good at embroidery, and the boys make benches and stools in the carpenter's shop. Last summer, they themselves redecorated the interior of the main building of the boarding school.
The concert in Uvarovka was a real event, even for such experienced performers
as Neposedy.
Julia Malinovskaya, a lead vocalist with Neposedy, has a vast experience of conducting concerts and TV shows _ for several years she presented the Morning Star TV show. In Uvarovka, she and her friends had to perform under very difficult conditions _ it began to rain during their open-air concert. However, the spectators did not pay any attention to the rain, and neither did the performers, and the concert went on. The spectators were so ingenuous in their approval, and they clapped their hands with such diligence... And the boys were quick to pick flowers from the flower-beds in the yard to give to the girls from Neposedy.
This event was very important both for the residents of the Uvarovka Boarding School and for the young performers. The concert became an opportunity for them to understand the pain and misery of others, take part in their destiny. Indeed, it is very rare that disabled children, especially children with such serious problems, attend the concerts of Neposedy. It was the first time that the young performers realised how badly such children need personal contacts with their peers. So often contacts between residents of such boarding schools and their healthy peers all make less frequently than one would like. But this is necessary for them as well as for us, for compassion, humanity and development.
|
The joint UNICEF and UNHCR project with the participation of NGOs working in
the North Caucasus is a part of the programme to help displaced persons and
is aimed at reducing the risk of people being blown up by landmines. According
to research, this risk is especially high for children and shepherds.
Within the framework of the "Danger: Mines!" programme, some 4,000
children from displaced persons' camps and those living
with other families attended special courses and took part in the competition
for the best drawing devoted to this danger. The children were told about the
danger of unexploded shells and of empty buildings that could be mined.
During these courses, visual aids showing pictures of various types of mines
were always on display, precise instructions were given on what actions one
should take in each case and on what one has to do in a dan
gerous area. The teachers of Chechen schools are also taking part in similar
courses now. They have been issued with illustrations and placards, to continue
working with children on their own. Special theatrical and puppet shows are
currently being prepared. These shows will deal with the issue of living in
areas where mines and unexploded shells are a clear and present danger. They
will be held at practically all schools in Ingushetia, including those set up
in tent camps.
