The First Children’s Forum, 2000: Television Reporter Tayfun Talipoğlu
National radio and television presenter, Tayfun Talipoğlu interviewing Minister Responsible for Women and Children’s Issues, Hasan Gemici.
Photograph © UNICEF Turkey 2000
In addition to the relevant State agencies and non-governmental organisations which have stood by us throughout the Children’s Forum we organised on 20-21 November 2000, we had an older brother who gave us power and great support: journalist Tayfun Talipoğlu. We know him from our television screens, microphone extended to all and sundry in every corner of Anatolia. This time he held his microphone out to us, so that we could be heard by millions …
When you’ve got an opportunity, make good use of it,
he told us.
Some of us were so excited that what came out our mouths was not what we wanted to say.
Seeing this, he bolstered our courage:
Don’t be timid when you talk, my friends. The way you say something is more important than what you’re saying and everyone of you is in a position to know
how. If there is criticism, you are the ones who can best determine its dosage because for years on end we’ve been talking on television and radio in this country, and you’ve been listening. Now it’s your turn to talk … ten years from now, the politicians and journalists who don’t move with the times, won’t be here -- but you will.
As we spoke out, reeling off our problems and suggestions, one after the other, he asked:
You’re raising my hopes; let me see which one of you has the strongest voice.
When one of our delegates mentioned a barrier to freedom of belief, he said:
We can’t show the courage you’re showing … thank you so much and congratulations. I only hope that you can remain this straightforward throughout life.
When we got too wordy, he would say:
If you ever have to make a presentation to someone in a high place, make sure to be brief and and to the point!
When he saw that we were becoming impatient for our rights, he reminded us once again the importance of patience:
Don’t ever think,
well, I’ve said a few words here and what difference did it make?This is how we’re brought up to think. Of course Turkey didn’t get here in one day, for better or for worse. Neither good nor bad can take over in one day. But what’s important is that you make yourself heard and say what you have to say.
He would hint:
I have a complaint about you; there’s no children’s song here. How come you didn’t say:
There’s no children’s song?
He both moderated our Forum, and broadcast our voice to viewers of Bass String, Travelogue for 45 minutes.
Our heartfelt thanks to Tayfun Talipoğlu and his team.
For more about Tayfun Talipoğlu, visit the Bamteli website. Unfortunately this web site is available in Turkish only.
Our warmest thanks go to the Children’s Rights Group of Gazi University Faculty of Communication who gave us a helping hand: as with previous activities, the Children’s Rights Group of Gazi University Faculty of Communication was once again on our side, supporting our efforts on the sidelines. We watched an informative cassette on Children’s Rights Group activities which they produced and a video film describing activities undertaken within the framework of the Rights of the Child Promotion Campaign.
Continue to the next section Making Our Voices Heard.
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THE FIRST CHILDREN’S FORUM -- NOVEMBER 2000
This fully illustrated report from The First Children’s Forum, 2000 is also available for download in pdf format. [PDF 417KB]
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