BBC Three - Blog - Stacey Dooley

Stacey Dooley on new series Coming Here Soon

Stacey Dooley Stacey Dooley — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:34:54 +0000

My new series (Coming Here Soon, Tuesdays 9pm) looks at how the world’s economic crisis has affected us all - in particular young people – and is one of the most important series I think I've done.

In the past I’ve focused on situations that are just as important as this one, but certainly a lot harder for us to relate to. The issue of child soldiers in DR Congo is fortunately not something many of us have first-hand experience of.

But feeling the pressure to find a job or make the wage we earn go as far as we need it to? That’s totally relatable. Nearly all my pals, and definitely myself, have been in that situation. It's no fun.

The economy is in bits here in the UK and as unfair as it is, it seems to be the least to blame are often the hardest hit. It's the same feeling over in Greece, although the Greeks are facing a much tougher time than us right now. Every single person you talk to there tells you they’re stressed and panicking about their future.

Greece is in so much debt and many Greeks say it's because they have been contending with a bent government. They will tell you that those in charge were - and still are - corrupt. They will tell you they were lied to, and given a false sense of security.

Now the country’s leaders are running around trying to find the money they owe. They’re putting harsh austerity measures in place on normal, hardworking people. Jobs are being cut all the time; families are struggling to feed their kids. There were some areas of Athens that reminded me of a third world country. It's a city on its knees.

Half of the Greeks’ youth are unemployed yet every young person I met was bright, academic, keen and talented. They should be an asset to their country, but instead it seems to me they are wasted. They've studied for years because they were told that if they did they would have decent jobs and comfortable lives. That's not been the case. I was heading back to my hotel room one night, and I saw a young lad on a main road with a needle hanging out of his arm nearly unconscious.

That was the same day I saw a mum hanging off the side of a building threatening to jump because she and her partner have both been told they were losing their jobs. She’s got two kids, one of whom is disabled and requires expensive medicine.

One night I will never ever forget, is when I was in the thick of a protest. There were nearly one million people outside parliament. I've never seen anything like it in my life. The riot police were aggressive and scary; they threw so much tear gas there were rumours they ran out of supplies.

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From what I witnessed, the police threw it without any warning whatsoever. There were kids here at this stage and everyone was struggling to breathe. I couldn't see. You lose your vision and can't get out of the way because there’s so many people, some of whom were getting crushed. In retaliation, people threw petrol bombs and buildings started burning down. This went on for hours. I remember people smashing marble off the steps and buildings. It was terrifying.

I hope people watch the episode and are able to see what it's like for Greek people at the minute. I was blown away by what they are going through right now, especially the young people. You have to keep your fingers crossed and hope things somehow work out for them.

Whether it's a total clear out in parliament or a revolution from the public, things have to change.

What stuck with me is this isn't Africa or South-East Asia. This is a country in the European Union, four hours away on a plane.

It's very close to home.

Coming Here Soon is on Tuesdays at 9pm.

My Hometown Fanatics - Stacey Dooley Investigates

Stacey Dooley Stacey Dooley — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 12:52:00 +0000

Making a documentary about my hometown was always going to be the most difficult topic I had ever covered! No question. I have made documentaries about sex trafficking in Cambodia and child soldiers in the Democratic Republic of Congo, but making a programme about Luton was different - it was personal.

I was born in Luton, I grew up in Luton and all my family and friends are still there. Luton is home for me.

It's been given a rough old time in the press. It is rumoured to have a fanatical few who are determined to use Islam as an excuse to justify some of their extreme beliefs and views.

This tiny minority used to be known locally to us as The Al-Muhajiroun, or the AMs. They were banned in 2010 under the UK Terrorism Act. My personal opinion is that these people do not represent what I understand Islam to be - at all.

I never really had an opinion about the Al Muhajiroun, I didn't really know enough about them. The only time I took real notice of them was when the troops were marching through the town and everyone had gathered to welcome them home.

The AMs showed up with banners, stating that the soldiers were 'baby rapists' and 'murderers'. They spat on some of the soldiers. Lots of Lutonians saw red, believing this was a step too far, and that day it all really kicked off. Police were everywhere. It wasn't a great day to be from Luton.

As a result, the EDL, (The English Defence League) formed.

I knew that extremism in Luton was a really important issue to try and cover, even though it could be very awkward for me at times! I've had people stopping me in the Arndale, telling me I've put Luton in the media again for negative reasons. I've had people from the EDL asking me where my head scarf is and people from the AMs asking me why I don't go find a boyfriend from the EDL - but I stand by the reasons why I decided to make the documentary, and I'm pleased I did.

I've learnt that whether we like to admit it or not, there are real issues that need addressing; there are people who aren't willing to see the other side, who believe their fanatical views are the only way forward. But it's also true that there are so, so, so many Lutonians - white, Asian, Muslim, Non-Muslim - who want to live peacefully. Together.

My Hometown Fanatics: Stacey Dooley Investigates is on Monday 20th February at 9pm

Meeting Young Sex Workers in Cambodia

Stacey Dooley Stacey Dooley — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 12:39:40 +0000

One of my most memorable trips so far.....Cambodia!

Sex trafficking and prostitution is an issue I've always, always wanted to learn about. I've always found it interesting how often beautiful, lovely girls find themselves in these awful situations. People can sometimes judge sex workers before they really know them or their circumstances...which is a bit naughty really. Surely these girls don't choose to be a prostitute first and foremost, so I decided to discover, first hand, how this all happens.

When I first arrived in Cambodia, I found it very buzzy and very happening. It seemed like quite a cool place and everyone, tourists and locals, seemed to be in good spirits! Lots of posing for photos and thumbs up with lots of glamorous, trendy couples. All good so far.

I'd arranged to meet a girl named Alang. She had been a prostitute since she was 12 years old and her story was just unbelievable. She had had so many devastating things happen to her and she was still only 18. I struggled to believe how people thought they could get away with treating Alang so badly. Alang had been sold, raped, stabbed, forced to take drugs, beaten, abused. Every story she told me seemed to be worse than the last.

Stacey Dooley and Alang (Photos by Fiona Lloyd-Davies)

It all started when Alang was 12, and she was told by her aunt that she would be helping her find work. In Cambodia, education is really a luxury and many kids are thrown into work as early as possible. This means they can help support their parents, as often the parents don't even earn a living wage. Alang thought that her aunt would be organising work as a waitress, or maybe a chambermaid. In fact, her aunt was planning to sell her niece to a pimp who would force Alang to sleep with hundreds of men to pay off her aunt's debt. The sex was unprotected and Alang was in danger of contracting HIV and many other sexually transmitted diseases. The clients would often feed her drugs and be violent towards her. She showed me a huge scar on the inside of her leg where one man had stabbed her.

I was just completely numb and couldn't believe what I was actually hearing. This all started when Alang was only 12! Alang told me that she hated all men and didn't trust anyone. She said the only time men are kind to her is when she wears 'beautiful clothes'. What a heartbreaking thing to think.

As I spent more time with Alang, we became pals. She was actually very funny and towards the end of the trip I felt she had grown to trust me, which was lovely. She would always be trying to sort my huge hair out, brushing it and popping it in fancy ponytails while telling me to keep my head still!

We arranged for Alang to leave the area and support her in following her real passion, hair and beauty. Alang moved cities with her two children, and has been spending time in a women's centre earning her keep by cleaning. She told us she had loved spending time with her kids and felt more calm and rested than she had in years. When Alang feels ready to focus on her hair and beauty, we have promised that we will make sure the course is sorted for her so she can support herself and the kids when she is fully trained.

Stacey Dooley and Alang release a bird, a buddhist tradition to release your sorrows. (Photos by Fiona Lloyd-Davies)

Obviously Alang is only one of thousands and thousands of girls who are forced down this route. However, the more we talk about these issues and the more aware we become that this is absolutely going on; the closer we are to being able to tackle things like this. There are people who dismiss any ideas you have about helping but anything has got to be better than doing absolutely nothing....hasn't it?

Fingers crossed :) x

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Here's some information about organisations working with children and women affected by sex trafficking in Cambodia:

CWCC: This is the centre featured in the programme where women can stay and they also run training courses, like the hair and beauty course Alang hopes to do. Cambodian Women's Crisis Center website
SSF: This is an NGO who try and help girls and their families before they are trafficked. In the programme, I met a young girl and they cycled together to her house. Her mum told me about her debts and how her daughter was approached by a trafficker. SSF Website
M'Loptapang: Although we filmed with this organisation, the sequence wasn't used in the end but they do very valuable work with 'at risk' kids in Siem Reap. M'Loptapang website
Riverkids Project: They work to end child trafficking in Cambodia. Riverkids Project website
APLE: They monitor and investigate people suspected of sexually exploiting children in Cambodia. APLE Cambodia website

Stacey Dooley presents Sex Trafficking in Cambodia: Stacey Dooley Investigates which is on tonight at 9pm on BBC Three.

You can read about Stacey's experiences filming Kids with Guns: Stacey Dooley Investigates on the blog here.

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My experience filming 'Kids with Guns: Stacey Dooley Investigates'

Stacey Dooley Stacey Dooley — Wed, 06 Oct 2010 16:40:16 +0000

Well, well, well! What can I say? If someone had of told me a couple of years ago I'd be visiting one of the most dangerous parts of the entire world to investigate something as scary as child soldiers I would have defo thought they were fibbing!

Stacey Dooley with a group of ex-child soldiers who are now at a transit centre. (Photos by Fiona LLoyd-Davies.)

The Democratic Republic of Congo is one of the most unstable, hostile environments you could possibly imagine...and initially I wasn't sure I was ready for such a place. I had to think really hard about whether or not I was up for going, as there was no point if I wasn't up for doing it properly. The country is notorious for years and years of fighting. Rebels and gangs kill, rape is rife and I read that an estimated 45,000 people are still dying every single month as a direct result of the DR Congo conflict.

But the plan was to go out there and find out how the kids of Congo were affected and I genuinely thought that was important and a strong enough reason to take a risk. So off I went!

I had to have specialist training to even visit. I had to learn how to act if I was kidnapped or what to do if anyone was shot and how to handle volatile situations. Gulp!

The Democratic Republic of Congo was the most unbelievable place I have ever seen. Now I'm not normally a massive fan of landscapes but the country was just so so stunning! It was weird to think that such awful things can happen in such a beautiful place.

I spent a lot of time with the youngsters, who had been literally dragged into the thick of the fighting. I listened to mums telling me how their kids were walking to school when a group of older lads or men kidnapped them, handed them a gun, fed them drugs and just completely destroy and manipulate them. These kids were forced to kill whoever they were told to. If they didn't kill, then they would almost certainly be killed. These boys are often only 9, 10 or 11 years old! Rape is used as a weapon and so often these boys are taught to rape girls and women.

They are told that the drugs they must take are important, as they work as 'armour' and keep them strong. They call it magic medicine. One lad told me the magic medicine he took made sure the bullets fired at him 'bounced off' and made him invincible.

I heard lots of heartbreaking, terrifying stories out there. I found it difficult to get my head around the fact that such awful things happen. But they absolutely do and so it's important that we are all a bit more in the loop about what's going on. And there are also a lot of amazing people, doing amazing things out there.

Muna, who you see in the programme, is an amazing guy who runs the centre for ex-child soldiers that I visited for the programme. This gives them a place to live, learn and eat and he ultimately tries to reunite kids with their families.

Stacey Dooley in an art class run by Nadege, at the transit centre for ex-child soldiers. (Photos by Fiona LLoyd-Davies.)

I also met the coolest young girl, Nadege from Belguim, who is working with an organisation to help teach child soldiers how to be children again. You can see her in the programme teaching an art class.

I was introduced to Zawadi, a former girl soldier, who after being gang raped and rejected from her family managed to pick herself up and learnt how to make dresses. She now has her own space in a workshop and wants to be a successful business woman. After hearing her story, I promised to buy her a sewing machine. Together with the film's director and producer Fiona Lloyd-Davies I bought her the sewing machine and table that she needed. Although we didn't mention it in the film, Zawadi was pregnant at the time and she's had a baby girl (whose second name is...Stacey!). She made me a gorgeous purple dress, watch out Karl Lagerfeld!

This experience has made me believe that you have to look at the positives and think that some good can come out of such devastating circumstances or nothing will ever change, will it? X

HOW YOU CAN HELP

Here are some details of the organisations that were featured in Kids With Guns: Stacey Dooley Investigates:

BVES is an NGO that runs the transit centre where we filmed the child soldiers run by Muna. For more information visit the website.

Children's Voice is the charity which trains and supports kids like Zawadi, the girl in the film. For more information visit the website.

Unicef is the United Nations agency for children that campaigns to end the use of child soldiers. You can learn more on their website.

Here are some other useful links if you want to find out more about the issues we covered in the programme:

Stacey Dooley presents Kids With Guns: Stacey Dooley Investigates at 9pm Thursday on BBC Three.

Stacey will also be sharing her experiences of filming Child Trafficking: Stacey Dooley Investigates here on the blog next week. Her programme looking at child trafficking in Cambodia will be on BBC Three next Thursday 14th October at 9pm.

More about Kids with Guns: Stacey Dooley Investigates

Read Stacey's diary she wrote for the BBC Three blog

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