Togo

In Togo, International Children’s Day of Broadcasting encourages child participation

© UNICEF/NYHQ2009-2027/Markisz

UNICEF Children’s Broadcasting Initiatives Executive Producer Karen Cirillo (left) presents youth host Kibano Elvis Adom, 11, and producer Fa-Iza Ibrahima, both from Télévision Togolaise, with an ICDB Regional Award for Television.

By Amy Bennett

NEW YORK, USA, 12 November 2009 – The International Children’s Day of Broadcasting (ICDB) Awards ceremony, held here earlier this week, brought accomplished broadcasters to New York from around the world to be feted and to share ideas and experiences. Among them were two representatives from Togo, home of the 2009 ICDB Regional Award for Television.

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Producer Fa-Iza Ibrahima and youth television host Kibano Elvis Adom, 11, attended both the awards ceremony and a roundtable discussion on children’s broadcasting that took place at UNICEF House.

“What really stood out for me from today’s event is the way that the other nominees from other countries also valued and encouraged child participation, and I think that is good,” Kibano said after the roundtable.

Youth education and awareness
Kibano and Ms. Ibrahima are part of ‘A Nous la Planete’ (A Planet for Us), a youth club working to safeguard the earth. The group actively supports rural education and youth awareness through children’s broadcasting, with a focus on children's rights, health, environmental protection and the promotion of peace.

A Nous la Planete has organized educational campaigns in districts and villages surrounding Togo’s capital, Lomé. It has also conducted a weekly children’s show on Télévision Togolaise (Togolese National Television) since 2004.

© UNICEF/NYHQ2009-2028/Markisz

Youth host Kibano Elvis Adom from Télévision Togolaise is interviewed by camerawoman Soelami Starke and producer Hennah Draaibaar from Surinaamse Televisie Journaal (another ICDB Regional Award for Television winner) at the awards ceremony in New York.

The annual awards are given to broadcasters who support ICDB, a day set aside each year to encourage young people to get involved in television and radio broadcasting.

ICDB 2009 took place in March of this year under the theme, ‘Unite for Children: Tune in to Kids.’ This year’s nominees came from Bangladesh, Brazil, Cambodia, Germany, Ghana, India, Kenya, Malaysia, South Africa, Suriname, Togo and Ukraine.