Newal Abubeker, presenter

"The concerns of Ethiopia’s young generation include education, jobs, and our wellbeing. For me, as part of this young generation, producing Negat was not just producing a programme about something I barely know. It was like exploring my own life. From the drama series we have produced, and from the contributors and guests we have talked with, I have explored my own environment, challenges, and opportunities. That is what makes producing Negat special for me.

"Through the characters in our Negat drama series, we have tried to reflect the lives of many Ethiopian young people. Negat creates a place where young people who are involved in volunteerism, apprenticeship, entrepreneurship, and art can share their experiences in education and in building a career path. Family and community members also share their thoughts on these experiences and goals.  

"Producing Negat helps me to understand that, in their day-to-day life, Ethiopian young people face challenges that make them feel hopeless and unable to find work. The challenges are different from place to place. Their perceptions of work, of access to information, of unreachable opportunities and a lack of skills are some of the challenges that many young Ethiopians are facing.

"While producing the show, we have tried to cover such problems. We have tried to show possible ways to find opportunities and information, and ways that young people can develop their experience and skill. We have also talked with experts and officials on how government and society can create a better place for young Ethiopians.

"The very interesting thing about our Negat TV and radio programmes is that we have put a lot of hard work to make them interactive and entertaining. We believe that delivering the programmes in a very interesting and entertaining way helps us reach the heart of audiences easily."

"As a young person, being involved and working on a project that highlights the challenges of employment, job creation, wellbeing, and other issues youth face in our country, and that points out ways to inspire and help them better explore their options, has been a very interesting learning experience for me.

"Our research findings were an important element behind the programme. They helped us to come up with a well-structured communication framework to design the episodes.

"We put a lot of hard work into planning and preparation, while setting specific communication objectives to address, and including contributors that resonate with urban and rural audiences.

"Traveling to places and meeting contributors, interacting with youth, producing the episodes, and the teamwork required to deliver our 12 episodes were what I most enjoyed from this journey. Of all the profiles we featured, a group of young people in Adama city who produce bicycles out of bamboo was the story that surprised me the most. 

"One thing that I hope sets a good example for other programmes is our approach to gender inclusion on the show. We followed the BBC’s 50:50 Project to ensure we fully included women and girls in our programmes. Female experts, decision-makers and role models were our advisors, and presented as part of our solutions.

"We also featured profiles of young people, young contributors and young decision-makers and experts - defying the old narratives that portray young people as the cause of a problem, and elders as part of the solution. Many young people in Ethiopia are fed up with this stereotype, and felt they were not being represented in shows made for young people. And I think that makes Negat unique and paves the way forward for future TV programmes."

Negat (Dawn) is broadcast on one television and one radio station in Addis Ababa, and one radio station in Amhara region, and accompanied by social media content. It is funded by the David and Lucille Packard Foundation as part of our ‘Engaging young people through media’ project, working to gain a better understanding of young people in the country: their aspirations, and what factors hold them back from succeeding in employment, and living healthy, active lives. Learn more about the project on our website. Read our research here.

“A message to the girl and boy child! Have ambition, know your goals, and don’t let anyone pressure you!”

The words of Elizabeth (left). Elizabeth and Rehema are friends who had their dreams snatched away from them after they got excluded from their respective schools because of getting pregnant.

“My dad did not even want to talk to me after he found out and our relationship completely broke down,” Rehama says. She blames bad company and peer pressure for influencing her decisions.

However, Elizabeth and Rehema now have reason to smile, after a change in the laws here have allowed teenage mothers to return to school. Rehema is now reunited with her parents and hopes to pursue her dream of becoming a nurse. Elizabeth hopes to pursue a career in arts and crafts.

Meet Aisha or as she is popularly known ‘Hijab DJ’ - the first woman DJ in Zanzibar. She fought stigma from her community and even her own family to become one of the most popular DJs in Zanzibar.

“The community needs to understand that the world is changing. People have different dreams, not everyone is going to be a doctor or a teacher. Some DJs will be born, some musicians will be born…”

“How can a woman change a tyre?”

This is one of the many statements that have been thrown at Amina. She doesn’t let it affect her.

“If you tell yourself you can’t do it, then that’s how it will play out. If you go in with confidence, then others will automatically respect you.”

Amina is a mechanic in Mtwara. It was her dream to become a mechanic ever since she was a child - a dream she has since fulfilled.

Judy is a tour guide based in Moshi, Kilimanjaro. In a short space of time, she has moved from being a porter to being a tour guide for clients looking to scale Mount Kilimanjaro.

Despite her success, some of her colleagues are still hesitant to fully accept her. Her goals remain clear: continue working hard, be the boss of her life and eventually open her own tourism company.

“Just because I’m a girl, it doesn’t mean I have to work in a bar as a waitress or do household chores as others may expect. I am young and I have a thirst for success!”

Want to know more about these stories? Check out the full interviews on Niambie Tanzania’s social media platforms.

Niambie’s work and Tanzania’s story is still ongoing, but we hope that with each story we tell and with each voice we give a platform, we are building a more equal Tanzania. Be sure to follow the SBCC Summit in Marrakech this December as we look to tell Niambie’s story to the world!

You can also see my Instagram takeover of the BBC Media Action account here – it includes some male champions striving for gender equality too.

Thanks for reading.

Back then, they said little by little, their attempts to protect girls had become known. Chowa described how initially they didn’t get told the details, “we just heard there was a marriage happening nearby and then we tried to get the information – was it a child marriage or not? After, stopping a few child marriages in this way people from our area got to know us.”

We asked why they do it… their reply?

"Someone must do it"

“If, we only think about ourselves then there is no point… many people don’t do anything because their family is not supporting them, or they have social bindings. But if all of us sit by then society will never change.” Tabassum said that from the bottom of their hearts they wanted to help stop child marriage and eve teasing.

By 2019, the Grasshoppers had stopped over 50 child marriages.

Part 2: Grassroots, keep going, keep growing

Four years have passed, and I decided to find out what had happened since then. Chowa is now on her way to university but her work with Ghashforing has never stopped. More teenagers have joined the team and now Chowa diligently guides the new girls.

In Bangladesh, over 50% of girls are married before they turn 18.

Chowa told me about a particularly memorable child marriage they helped prevent.

They had learned that a senior girl from their school was being forced into an early marriage. Due to financial difficulties, the girl's family was unwilling to continue her education, and had decided to marry her off. But the girl’s family denied they were arranging her marriage.

First, Chowa and her friends went to the headmaster of their school and asked if the school could pay the expenses for the girl to continue her studies. Then they entered the girl’s house, disguised as wedding guests!

They sought out the bride who confirmed the wedding had been arranged against her will. The Grasshopper team then met the bride’s parents and explained the negative impacts of early marriage and told them that the school would pay for the girl's education. It was a tense, nerve-wracking but momentous moment when the family agreed to put a stop to the wedding.

Chowa said that moment shines brightly in her memory.

Amplifying the voices of women and girls

When the Grasshopper girls appeared on BBC Media Action’s Hello Check! Chowa found that many people in all corners of the country, and even outside the country, heard about the work of Ghashforing and it helped other girls be more aware of the issues.

"Many are showing courage and initiative… maybe the situation of early marriage would have changed only in this area. However, because of this publicity, now there is an opportunity for everyone to be aware and change the situation. Of course, you must continue to study if you want to get rid of the injustice, torture and dowry"

She explained that it’s a societal effort. Girls need the help of someone they can trust – a schoolteacher or an older sibling - and there is a government helpline for the prevention of early marriage. She added that the relationship between a girl and her parents needs to be handled with care – and reflected on another child marriage they stopped.

They found out from the girl’s friend in their school, that an early marriage was taking place against her will. But Chowa described how the family will often deny that there are plans for a child marriage.

On this occasion, they set up a vigil near the family home and – as suspected - the marriage started happening one evening. Ghashforing stopped that marriage with the help of Nandail's Teenage Women Football Team! The good news is that the girl then returned to school and is continuing her studies - which Chowa describes as the most satisfying part of their work.

Spreading the word and wings

Times are changing, early marriage used to be publicly celebrated, but this happens much less now – and Chowa thinks this is down to the success of the Grasshoppers – shared across Bangladesh by BBC Media Action’s Hello Check!.

Teenage girls in Bangladesh face many pressures as they grow up. Many of them cannot study because of financial problems. Many families think that daughters are a burden - that they will get married and leave for another house, so there’s no point spending money on their education. If we can change this kind of thinking, teenagers will grow up wonderfully.

When we asked Chowa about her future, she said she wants to study law at university. She wants to establish justice in our country. She said that if women study law, they will understand their rights. She wants women and girls to be better able to distinguish between right and wrong – and tackle injustice.

Chowa is determined to work with Ghashforing all her life. She wishes that girls should fly freely in the open sky, Grasshoppers is a belief, an idea, and a name to be trusted. Those who have followed in the footsteps of the original seven girls – will always be supported by Chowa.

Together they will keep stopping early marriages.

Final words of conviction from Chowa?

"There will never be a shortage of Grasshoppers in the open sky."

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Tasnim Khandoker is an Assistant Producer for BBC Media Action in Bangladesh.

Learn more about:
Our work in Bangladesh here
Our work to support women and girls here
Or listen to the ‘Voices of women and girls’ here

For 20 years, BBC Media Action has been supporting media freedom and providing training and mentoring to journalists in developing countries to produce free, independent journalism that provides space for constructive public debate.

For the recent UNESCO World Press Freedom Day conference (WPFD2019) in Ethiopia, we sponsored two youth delegates – Bwale Mutanuka from Zambia and Kefa Hussein from Tanzania – to take part in the Youth Newsroom initiative, which gives young journalists from around the world the chance to report on the conference and improve their journalism skills.

Bwale (left), from Zambia, is currently Chief Producer of a youth-focussed radio show called Ishiwi, supported by BBC Media Action. Kefa (right) is a Film and Television student from Tanzania who works as a ‘Young Professional’ for our vibrant youth radio programme, Niambie. They both kindly spoke to me about their experiences in Addis, what they learned whilst there, and why media freedom is important to them. Read on to find out more!

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So, when did you both first know that you wanted to be journalists?

Bwale: For me, I’ve known since I was very young – maybe since fourth grade in school. I always thought I should be on TV reading the news or reporting from the field! I used to go around my school pretending to interview students, and took part in both press and debate club. My dad actually wanted me to study something completely different, but my mum and I convinced him that journalism was the course for me.

Kefa: My dream started when I was around 11 years old watching a Tanzanian kids’ news show on Independent TV – I wanted to be just like the young presenters! I auditioned for the show but sadly didn’t get through – however it sparked a passion in me and I took on every presenting opportunity I could find at school until I chose to study film and TV at university.

What’s the best story you’ve reported on?

Bwale: Where I’m based in Chingola, we’re right in the middle of the Zambian copperbelt – so I find that I cover a lot of stories about the mining sector. Recently we had some peaceful demos by citizens who felt their water was becoming polluted due to mining activity, and some of their houses were getting cracks. The government had promised to support these communities – so it was interesting reporting on both sides to see how the citizens’ concerns were being handled by their leaders.

Kefa: My best story was when I shared the experience of a young girl living just outside of Dar Es Salaam and the difficult journey she faces every day to get to school. We followed her from the moment she wakes up (at 4am) and gets ready, through to her dangerous journey walking to school all alone along a very dark and busy road. The road is full of drunkards and ‘fataki’ (sugar daddies) who try to talk to the girls. There is a bus, but the conductors often refuse to let too many students board as they have to charge a lower fare. We also interviewed her teacher, and the piece really opened my eyes to the extra challenges girls in my country face just to get to school.

How did you get involved with BBC Media Action?

Bwale: I first heard about Media Action when I worked for Radio Icengelo, as the charity had previously helped the station run some audience debate shows. Then I started at Kokoliko FM and heard that we were starting a partnership with Media Action – I was really happy! Now I’m the Chief Producer of a youth radio show called Ishiwi, supported by the charity, which broadcasts every Saturday. I work with fellow young people to discuss and debate the important governance issues affecting young Zambians so they can know what’s going on and hold leaders to account. Media Action’s mentor, Vanessa, travels out to us from Lusaka to deliver all kinds of training – from editorial and production through to responsible social media usage, to make sure we’re properly verifying all our sources. She’s really helped me when it comes to objectivity, impartiality and transparency – and has helped me ensure I’m striking a good balance between female and male voices on the show.

Kefa: Well firstly, I was aware of BBC News and World Service. BBC Swahili is very popular here in Tanzania. I remember one day in my first year of studies, a friend ran up to me with an advert for Niambie he’d seen on Instagram. I’d never heard of the charity before but was curious to learn more, so did some research and applied! I was quite nervous at first that my English wouldn’t be good enough, as it’s my second language, but I got accepted! I started as a ‘Young Professional’ with Niambie in July 2017. My job is to help gather content from the field to include on the show, including creating some digital content for Niambie’s social media channels. When I started with Niambie I had no editing skills, but they’ve really grown a lot from working on the show. I enjoy it very much – more than university! When it comes to Niambie, this is the reality of what I want to do, you know? Meet real people, tell real stories, put my training into action.

Tell us about your experiences at World Press Freedom Day!

Bwale: There was so much! I was so grateful and humbled to be there. I learned a lot about development and the media reform process Ethiopia is currently going through – it made me think a lot about the state of media reforms in my own country. A big theme of the conference was ‘elections in times of disinformation’ – and with Zambia’s elections coming up in 2021, it reinforced how important it is for me to report in a responsible manner. Zambia has been a beacon of peace in Africa since its independence, and I want this to continue. So I need to report factually and recognise, and be sensitive to, the potential influence I have over my listeners. I also learned a lot from Kefa and really enjoyed hearing about his work with youth radio in Tanzania and the political situation there.

Kefa: Going to Addis was my first ever international visit! I have to say I initially found little things very confusing – such as the currency and the language – but the trip really exposed me to new people and new cultures. My favourite session was with the organisation Cartooning for Peace who produce satirical cartoons with political messages. It’s rare to find this kind of cartoon in Tanzania – not many people have the courage to draw cartoons that go beyond making people laugh to help people learn or address sensitive issues. I also really enjoyed the session on how to spot real versus fake news, and learnt useful techniques such as checking the author’s background and finding alternative sources. I learnt a lot of things for sure, and it was great to meet Bwale and discover the work she is doing with Media Action in Zambia.

Why do you both think media freedom is important?

Bwale: For me, media freedom is important because it means I can dig into a story without any interference from the government. I have no fear – I know I have the freedom to report and write what is right. I was really inspired at the conference by the journalists from Myanmar who won the Press Freedom prize – they encouraged me to be fearless in my reporting.

Kefa: I think media freedom is important in Tanzania so that people can consume news from lots of different sources and in lots of different ways – be it newspapers, radio or social media. We’re heading towards an election next year, and I think media freedom plays an important role in informing people and helping them to figure out for themselves which candidate is right for them. As a developing country, free media is also something we really need to be an informed society – media plays an important role in the development of my country.

What did you learn at the conference that will help you in your career? And what is your dream job in media?

Bwale: This whole experience has really encouraged me to have confidence in my ability as a journalist and to persevere in my career, even in the face of challenges. I always have more to learn! And my dream? I would love to be a news anchor on TV – I’m confident that if I continue working as a reporter I will get there one day!

Kefa: Well, I really now want to encourage all of my friends studying graphics and design to try including important messages into their cartoons! My dream? I want to be an influential person in my country – in fact, just like Salim Kikeke from BBC Swahili! He’s one of the most influential people in Tanzania and young people really appreciate what he is doing – the way he presents the show, his social media activity. He stands out from other journalists. And I want to keep supporting young people to participate in society through media. Young people make up almost 60% of Tanzania’s population. If you exclude them, you have no nation.

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To find out more about our work supporting media freedom and strengthening the capacity of journalists like Bwale and Kefa around the world, check out the media development section of our website.

The walls are splashed with colour. A girl stands in the centre of the image, her arm extended, brandishing a pen. In one corner sits a crow - a bird regarded as a pariah in many societies. A monkey hangs above waves, clouds and local monuments. These scenes on the set of Taja Sawal (Fresh Questions) were painted by volunteers and are designed to capture the spirit of the new programme’s young audience: their concerns, queries, frustration, their eagerness to be heard, and their need to be seen.

A fresh start

True to its name, Taja Sawal offers a fresh take on things. It is a forum for Nepal’s youth to share their perspectives on a host of issues, including the education system, outward migration, unemployment, and corruption. There are, otherwise, few opportunities for young people to chat about these things in public.

Taja Sawal grew out of our long-running discussion programme Sajha Sawal (Common Questions)."We had always wanted to do something new to engage more with the young audience we have online - they are the most active population on the Sajha Sawal Facebook page," says Dipak Bhattarai, the editor. "We did a pilot Facebook Live show which was received very well last year."

The voice of the youth

We approached two vibrant young people Bivek Rai and Sujita Chaudhary to present the show - both are under 20. Bivek was working as a member of Sajha Sawal’s production staff and Sujita Chaudhary – an engineering student – was spotted when she asked a tough question during a Sajha Sawal episode about politicians meddling in the running of colleges.

The two presenters come from quite different backgrounds. Bivek, born in Udaypur district of eastern Nepal, comes from an indigenous ethnic group, while Sujita is from the Madheshi community, from the plains of Tarai. "I always wanted to do something like standing up for something, as I’m known for being a rebel," says Sujita. "Presenting Taja Sawal makes me feel like I finally have a platform to not just voice my own opinions but also those of others like me."

"It’s a different kind of programme because young people hardly get a chance to discuss concepts like federalism", adds Bivek. "Sujita and I basically act as moderators, but we also get chance to learn things and ask our questions in the programme when we converse with the guests and participants. And then there’s interaction with Facebook friends."

Presenters, participants and guests sit around in a semi-circle discuss subjects ranging from music and poetry to the newly-elected local representatives. The tone of the show is informal and guests freely talk about personal as well as professional issues. "It’s a free-thinking platform, where there are no boundaries. And that means boosting confidence while allowing young people to talk about their issues and increase understanding about politics," adds Bivek.

"It’s about the connection. When both presenter and the guest are young, it makes a difference."

Doing it differently

And because it is streamed live on Facebook, audience members get a chance to interact.

"Politics should be broken down and simplified. That’s why a show like this is important. Instead of just talking politics and parties, the young people need an explanation and chances to interact with leaders," says Anita Adhikari, a student, who has been a regular viewer and has posted questions to the show.

"Facebook Lives have been used by a number of forums and media organisations, and done quite at random. But Taja Sawal is entertaining and educational as well, which is why it draws someone like me to it," she adds.

Six episodes in, the viewing figures show how Taja Sawal’s popularity has grown. The latest Facebook Live currently has 164,000 views, more than doubling the online audience of the first programme.

The six Taja Sawal episodes have been viewed a total of more than 661,000 times so far– with engagement and audience figures increasing all the time.

Hosting a show together is not always easy, especially a live show. "It’s is an experiment for all of us, even our audience has not tasted such a programme before," says co-host Sujita "but times are constantly changing and I think we have a programme that has a future."

Watch this space.

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BBC Media Action is not funded by the BBC licence fee and depends on the generous support of donors. Help support our work here.

The media has a significant role to play in changing stereotypes of young Sierra Leoneans. Young people are often described as lazy, violent or easily influenced and negative stories about youth unemployment, teenage pregnancy and violence by young gangs often populate our news. But Dis Na Wi Voice aims to change that.

We invite young people to tell their stories via our Facebook page. The platform gives them the space to talk to us about their hopes for the future, their frustrations about issues that affect them and how others inspire them or how they have achieved their aspirations. By sharing online our audience can connect and share their comments about the same issues and empower each other.

There are thousands of young people in Sierra Leone with countless issues to deal with but Dis Na Wi Voice hopes to change the way young people are portrayed for the better. Not least when inspirational stories like Fanta’s helps young people to see the important role they play in our country’s future.

As one young respondent who took part in our research said “Wetin na for wi without wi nor to for wi’’ – “What is for us without us is not for us.”

Related links

Dis Na Wi Voice is funded by Comic Relief
Find out more about our work in Sierra Leone
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the BBC Media Action website

A punchy, start-up drama

My mission: to provide a ‘crash course’ on social media for the Dandara production team, taking my experience of managing social media for a global brand with millions of followers – and applying it to a punchy start-up drama in the Palestinian Territories.

I worked with Hassan Jaddeh, a fellow social media trainer with in-depth knowledge of the audience. A self-starter, Hassan is the perfect example of the role models that Dandara aims to portray. Dissatisfied with the social media analysis available in the Palestinian Territories, he took it upon himself to launch his own social media agency and hasn't looked back since.

“For Palestinian youth, social media is the only platform to express themselves freely,” says Hassan. “Most young people are on Facebook…social media linked to the drama will help provide a space for discussion, and hopefully help encourage greater tolerance and understanding between young Palestinians living different lives in Gaza and the West Bank.”

Social buzz

The Dandara production team, scriptwriters, journalists, editors and camera crew, arrived at the training early and were keen to get started. They had a show to launch and wanted to create and maintain a social buzz around it. Team members focused on film production learned the importance of putting the key moment into the first five seconds of a promotional video, adding an ‘end-card’ with a call to action (to get people subscribing to your channel or watching more of your films), and including subtitles for people watching on their phone without sound. Those working on scriptwriting concentrated on the importance of hashtags, succinct copy and taglines to help draw in the audience and generate conversation.

We also discussed the importance of creating a detailed plan that shows the scale of the social media campaign, identifies who will deliver what – from trailers and teasers to the images and GIFs – and when. This is one the most obvious, but often overlooked aspects of a social media campaign – tools which have served me well when planning the launch of the latest series of Doctor Who.

When I met with Tawfiq Abu Wael, the Supervising Director of the drama on my second day, I asked him what sentence encapsulated the idea of the series. In my efforts to better understand the project, I wanted to have a tagline that I could refer to while discussing the social media campaign with the team. Tawfiq said “Dandara means living in hope under the shadow of the wall. It may be difficult, but we don't give up”. These words still echo in my head. Like Doctor Who, Dandara aims to entertain – but it also aims to inspire young Palestinians to dream of a better future.

We are not funded by the BBC licence fee and depend on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Related links

Visit the Dandara Facebook page
Watch Dandara on YouTube
Go back to the BBC Media Action website

Real role models

Our most recent episode focused on crime, gang violence and abuse against women.

In the first part of the show, we interviewed a reformed gang leader called ‘ICE’, who talked openly to us about his old life and why he gave up violence to work with The Anti-Violence Movement in Sierra Leone (AVMSL). He encourages young people to build a peaceful life that is beneficial to their community rather than starting a life of crime.

''There is no pension in crime'' said ICE. "It's never too late to transform to a positive life.''

In the sports segment of our show, Kung Fu expert Ezekiel Bangura teaches our presenter, Maraya Conteh, some new moves which could be used to ward off attackers.

“I was surprised to learn the Kung Fu is a game of discipline” Maraya says breathlessly after recording the training. “There are misconceptions that this sport is violent, but it is all about self-defence and peace.”

And in our discussion segment, representatives from the police department highlighted the serious consequences of having a criminal record – and the dangerous effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Media has played a role in perpetuating negative stereotypes for young people here but we know it also has a significant role to play in changing them. By highlighting young role models and real stories in Dis Na Wi Voice – we hope to inspire young people to create positive change for themselves, their families and for everyone in Sierra Leone.

Dis Na Wi Voice is produced as part of the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, funded by Comic Relief and produced by BBC Media Action. We are not funded by the BBC licence fee and depend on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Related links

Read more about Dis Na Wi Voice
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the BBC Media Action website

It was with great joy that we heard the news that our newly-wedded colleague had given birth to a healthy baby boy via Caesarean section. The joy did not last long.

When I received the devastating news that my friend and colleague had passed away after complications following childbirth, a great wave of sadness washed over me. Amran had been with her baby for just 18 days.

Giving birth shouldn’t be a matter of life and death. Tragically, for many expectant mothers in Somalia, it is.

In Somalia, one woman out of every 12 dies as a result of pregnancy or childbirth. The leading causes of maternal deaths – hemorrhage (bleeding), infection, unsafe abortion, high blood pressure, seizures and obstructed labour – conspire to make Somalia one of the most dangerous places to give birth in the world. Most of these deaths are avoidable if only the right medical help is available.

I was reminded too, of the importance of our own maternal health projects, particularly our former radio drama and discussion show Tiraarka Qoyska (Pillars of the Family) where listeners could obtain expert health advice. We found that powerful and emotional story lines in the drama – in which a character died – motivated pregnant women and mothers to adopt safer health practices. In short, fictional deaths were helping to save real lives.

It’s heartbreaking that Amran’s death is all too real.

Our beautiful and talented actress won the hearts of everyone she met. She’ll be profoundly missed.

Related links

Find out more about our work in Somalia
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the BBC Media Action website

This is also the first September under a new government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, whose book Freedom from Fear greatly inspired me when I first found it in the reference section of the British Council library in Yangon in 2007. In the quiet of that library I discovered the concepts of freedom and democracy.

Almost 10 years later, new hope is in the air under a new government in Kayin state, one of Myanmar’s most ethnically diverse areas, wracked by religious tension, poverty and one of the world’s longest civil wars. With a ceasefire agreed between the Kayin National Union (KNU) and the Myanmar government in late 2015, and the first ever national peace dialogue being held in the country’s capital this month, questions remain for the young people of Kayin state. Will they be able to find jobs? Will they be able to express their opinions and ask questions of their leaders? Will they be free from fear in this new Myanmar? Will this peace be sustainable?

Facing our own questions

Nervous and quiet, I’m now on my way, with the LLKS lead producer Su Myat Mon, after being summoned to the Kayin state government office. Having lived in fear for most of our lives, like many ordinary citizens in this country, we know that when dealing with authority anything can happen.

Before I’m done preparing my mind to be calm, our car reaches the government office. The officials are nervous of the media and want to know more about our event. In the ensuing discussion we are relieved as their intentions seem benign and in the end, we are only left to worry about whether all the panellists will turn up tomorrow.

The next day, under a banner asking “How can we create jobs for youth in Kayin state?” the panel and audience arrive. The 56-strong-audience of young people ask politely-worded, yet strong and impassioned questions on a wide range of issues, from jobs and education, to the need for a decent living wage and an end to gender discrimination in the workforce.

For me one question stands out: “The KNU and government armies have been fighting in the past in Kayin state. People take refuge in our neighboring country Thailand” said 20-year-old, Kaung Min Thant.

“They want to come back to work in Kayin state. They want to apply for a job in government departments. But they’re asked whether they have passed high school or university. As they are not a high school or university graduate, will they have to live all their life in a refugee camp? Will they have to work as low-level labourers in another country? Will they not have a chance to come back to this state?”

The panellists of course do not have all the answers but respond with their own hopes, ideas and commitments for future change. At the end of the debate there were many questions left in the minds of the audience members, who are keen to keep asking, discussing and debating.

We have now left behind the Zwekapin mountain ranges and are passing through green fields of rice hoping for a light of hope from the new government and a brighter future for this land which has suffered much from darkness in the past. The questions from the debate still echo in my mind. I personally hope this unique event will help to create a culture where all youth who participated in the show and listened to it throughout Myanmar will be able to pursue their dreams and enjoy freedom from fear.

Related links
Find out more about LLKS
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
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“In my next life I want to be a boy because they can do anything they like”, said the 15-year-old girl.

Then, looking at me, she added: “I too want to own a mobile phone, have short hair and wear jeans. Tell me how I can become like you.”

It was a poignant cry for voice and a self-determined identity which opened my eyes to a world full of opportunities for boys, where elder brothers are the disciplinarians of sisters and a girl owning a mobile phone is something to be ashamed of.

I met this teenager, and many others like her, while carrying out research for our new78-episode television show, AdhaFULL (Half Full in Hinglish) and radio show Full on Nikki – a UNICEF-funded multimedia project using drama and discussion to help people break the silence surrounding sensitive issues affecting young people, challenge traditions that perpetuate gender stereotypes and boost the ability of teenagers to take action to improve their lives.

After mining all the existing academic research and policy documents about our key audiences - girls and boys aged 10-19 and their parents – we had the key themes for our programme: child marriage, education, nutrition, gender roles, peer pressure and bullying, body image, violence and abuse.

Connecting with teenagers

But to really understand how we could make storylines resonate with audiences and be truly transformative we wanted to connect with teenagers and their parents to hear, in their own words, about their lives, dreams and the barriers they face.

So the team got into a bus that trundled off to a school in the town of Siwalkhas, a semi-urban settlement three hours away from Delhi.

It was immediately clear that a difference between girls and boys was ingrained early. Although the school was co-educational, the boys’ classrooms were on the left and the girls’ on the right with the teachers seated in the sun at a desk in the middle to ensure that no one crossed the gender divide. The head teacher met us, wooden ruler in hand, saying it was his duty to ensure that “no accidents occur”. By “accidents” he meant romantic liaisons between students that would bring the school into disrepute in the eyes of parents and potentially force its closure.

We came back and wove the experience into our show. Revealing the invisible force-field that surrounds many Indian women and girls, pushing them to live up to the expectations of others - be it family or society - is a major goal of the programme. I hope that it will encourage people to question a culture of quiet compromise that can lead to an acceptance of discrimination.

“We want our daughters to be brave”

We tested the pilot episodes with mothers, fathers, boys and girls. They all sat riveted, cracking up at the jokes, but it was the comments from the mothers in the audience that were the most striking. “Yes, the town in the show is like our town”. “Yes. Girls get married at 15 in our community”. “We want our daughters to be brave like the show’s heroine”, they said.

The programme launches later this month and I’m optimistic it will mark the beginning of a journey of change.

Related links

Read more about our work in India
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Go back to the BBC Media Action website

BBC Sema was born out of BBC Sema Kenya, a national TV and radio debate show that brought together well-known public figures with the public to debate the big issues of the day. One of the most surprising things I learnt as a senior production manager for BBC Sema Kenya was that young people formed a significant portion of our audience. The show wasn’t youth- orientated but our research told us that more than a third of regular viewers and listeners were between the ages of 15 and 24. With this knowledge, we decided to create something new for this under-served audience.

Little more than a year after BBC Sema Kenya came off air, BBC Sema began life on the BBC Swahili Service. With its mix of topical discussion, young personalities, music and a playful approach to politics, it’s not exactly a chip off the old block. Through entertaining discussion and debate, the show aims to address the absence of information about politics in the media aimed at young people.

Stand up and be heard

Actress, TV host and radio presenter, Phylistiah (Phylis) Mwatee is the programme’s dynamic young host. Equally at home interviewing politicians and musicians, Phyllis brings an infectious sense of fun as well as a keen intellect to the programme, which she combines with a strong message to Kenyan youth – ‘simama usikike’ (stand up and be heard).

She breezed through her first show and afterwards told me why it’s so important for young people to have a show like this: “As we move towards the elections we are constantly being told ‘now is our time’. With this programme, I finally believe we have an opportunity to make our voices heard to affect the [political] debate.”

Our social media producer, Audrey Wabire helps continue the conversation ‘off-air’ and ‘online’ and is keen to capitalise on a new wave of tech-savvy Kenyans. “Mobile use in Kenya is high and young people are using their phones for data rather than voice and SMS (text). Social media is the way young people keep in touch with each other therefore it’s the best way for us to keep in touch with them” she tells me. A variety of content including behind-the-scenes films, music videos of featured artists and content from partners will feature across a variety of social media platforms.

As BBC Sema develops, I hope that the conversations it sparks can help support young people to make more informed choices and support them to shape the kind of Kenya they want to see.

Related links

• Follow BBC Sema on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
• Find out more about our work in Kenya
• Go back to the BBC Media Action website