Butterflies Broadcasting Children - India

The half-hour radio programme features news (local and international), popular music, and interviews. In order to facilitate interviews, the group has its own portable recorders (digital and analogue) with professional microphones and other equipment. For example, one programme was based on the reports of closure of a night shelter without prior notice. The report, which featured interviews, focussed on the hardship that streetchildren faced as a result of the closure. Said one street boy, Yakub (age 16): “The general public is not bothered about us. So reports on our lives do not get published. It is the life of the privileged class [which] is more in demand”.

The programmes are broadcast from a two-in-one cassette recorder placed on a rickshaw with loud speakers attached to it. At the designated time, the rickshaw is peddled to a marketplace so that the cassette can be played.

Production of these radio packages began in March, 2000, when young participants were trained by PressWise in the basics of broadcasting (i.e., information gathering, team work, accuracy in communication, time management, and the use of mini-discs and walkmans). Since that session, participants have met twice per month to record and edit the radio programme. They hope to meet more frequently, enabling them to produce one radio programme per week.

Children, Youth, Rights.

In January, 1999, PressWise (a United Kingdom-based media ethics charity) sent a circular email describing an international media and child rights initiative called "Representing Lost Childhood". The purpose of this initiative was to develop children's rights and media advocacy training packages that would increase awareness of issues related to children's rights among media personnel and NGOs, as well as involve children in and increase their access to the media. Butterflies was the first NGO to respond to the email. This Dehli-based NGO has been working with streetchildren since 1998. The collective 'Bal Mazdoor' was organised by and for street and working children under the auspices of this NGO. Click here for a Programme Description of the children's council and wall newspaper initiative associated with this collective.

After completion of their training, the child reporters (with the help of an adult facilitator) began exploring the possibility of securing air time from All India Radio and F.M. radio channels. They also considered transmitting their programmes through a cable network. None of these avenues proved fruitful. Thus, participants began to broadcast their productions on public address systems. However, the children are still pursuing air time. Another goal includes developing an 'Alternative Media Centre' run by children.