Children's Media Center (CMC) - Kyrgyz Republic

Created in 1999 to pursue the mission of "Children for Children", the Children's Media Center (CMC) includes 50 young members of CMC from schools and journalism training programmes at schools and universities in the city of Bishkek, Kyrgyz Republic. CMC works in television, publishing, and rights advocacy in two languages: Kyrgyz and Russian. Goals include:

• Creating the conditions for children's self-expression
• Studying and raising awareness about children's problems in Kyrgyz society
• Disseminating information about children's rights
• Making children aware of the UN International Convention on the Rights of the Child.

Main Communication Strategies
CMC's television, publishing, and advocacy initiatives are conducted almost exclusively by children themselves; when adults - faculty at journalism programmes at local universities - get involved, their role is to facilitate rather than to lead. CMC members define their own problems, work out the themes for the plot, conduct the necessary research, and write the articles and scenarios. The adults act as consultants when needed, assist with the production process, and coordinate the work of the children.

CMC publishes the magazine "Neboskreb-Munara" ("Skyscraper") in Russian and Kyrgyz languages. In addition, CMC published and distributed 1,000 copies of "Convention on the Child's Rights by the Child's Eyes" (in pictures) to students of Bishkek and Chui oblast.

CMC also uses video and television to draw attention to children's rights.

• CMC has produced two video-albums consisting of interactive videos focussed on various articles of the Convention on the Child's rights. The third album is in the works.
• CMC has produced a number of videos and films. For example, four short videos were produced about how children in Bishkek celebrate International Day of Children's Protection. These videos feature children from the House of the Child, orphans in the streets, and children with their parents in amusement parks. There is also a documentary detailing the efforts of kids from orphanages who cleaned up the river Alamedin (with the support of the Swiss Coordination Bureau in Bishkek and Alpine Fund). In addition, CMC produced a film "Inclusive Education in Naryn town" on behalf of Save the Children (UK). This film is in Russian, English, and Kyrgyz. Finally, a short film called "Children of Underground" was created about CMC's efforts to befriend and help a twelve-year-old boy named Andrey who lives on the street. The shooting crew of this film were invited to the national TV studio to present the film and to discuss how the film was created.
• From April 2001 to December 2002, CMC members worked as part of the CNN Student Bureau (CNN SB) in Bishkek. Following training, these students made ten video stories for CNN, two of which aired on CNN. One of them concerns children's right to express their own opinion, using the example of "Neboskreb-Munara" magazine. Two web stories also appeared on the CNN website.
• A group of CMC students focus their activity on HIV/AIDS issues. They produce video stories and write articles on HIV/AIDS.
• In October 2002, CMC started producing a monthly youth TV programme called "Neboskreb", which features highlights and announcements from "Neboskreb-Munara" magazine. Students produce video stories that feature humorous as well as serious stories. The programme is broadcast on the National channel of Kyrgyz Republic.

The following advocacy efforts have been a cornerstone of CMC's work:

• A series of training sessions on the Convention on the Child's Rights was conducted by children at Bishkek schools
• Two CMC representatives participated in the workshop and training of facilitators for "Children, Citizenship and Governance", organised by Save the Children (UK), in Delhi, India in November, 2000.
• A series of advocacy projects were organised in Voznesenovskaya colony in the Children Protection Center and in the Children Adaptation Center.
• CMC students have participated in a number of youth festivals, such as the One Minute Jr. Awards (2002, 2003) in Amsterdam, the Olympia International Film Festival for Children and Young People 2002 in Zizano, Greece, and many other contests on HIV/AIDS, gender, and healthy living. Some of this participation has originated from CMC's membership in the Young People's Media Network (YPMN).

Development Issues
Children, Youth, Rights, Child Protection, HIV/AIDS, Environment.