Voices of change: Children in Maliana are using radio to speak for their rights

Maliana, 30 October 2025 - Every Saturday afternoon, the community radio station in Maliana comes alive with the sound of young voices. Behind the microphones are ten children, five girls and five boys, who call themselves.

The Children’s Radio Programme Team. Among them are Terezinha, 16, and Samuel, 13, two bright and curious students who joined the team in 2025.

Together, they use their voices to talk about the issues that matter most to them and their peers.The Children’s Radio Programme is a UNICEF-supported initiative implemented in partnership with the National Directorate of Promotion and Development of Media under the Secretariat of State for Social Communication (SECOMS). It provides children from Aileu, Dili, Maliana, Oecusse, to Viqueque, with the opportunity to learn, create, and share their voices through community radio. The programme focuses on raising awareness about the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC) and discussing key issues affecting children in Timor-Leste. Beyond promoting learning and communication, it also helps strengthen children’s confidence, teamwork, and understanding of their rights.

Before joining the radio team, neither Terezinha nor Samuel had imagined that one day they would host a radio show. Through short trainings supported by UNICEF, they learned about children’s rights, how to prepare interviews, write scripts, and produce engaging radio magazines. They were also introduced to the basics of broadcasting, discovering how to use their voices with confidence and purpose.

“I feel very happy to be part of this program,” said Terezinha with a smile. “Here, I’ve learned so many things that we don’t usually learn at school. My favorite topic is on the right to play for every child, because I can share stories about the different games we enjoy together and why these are important for us.”

Each Saturday, after finishing their schoolwork, the children gather at the radio station. They are divided into three teams, the interview team, the team of presenters, and the transcription team, rotating roles every few weeks so that everyone gets the chance to experience each part of radio production.

Terezinha enjoys being a presenter and interviewer. “I like going to the community and asking people questions,” she said. “When we talk about children’s rights, like the right to identity, breastfeeding, and protection, I feel like I am helping others understand how important these are.”

For Samuel, his favorite topic is safe internet use. “I like talking about how to stay safe online and how to use the internet for learning,” he explained.

“Children today need to know how to use technology wisely.”

But some of their discussions hit closer home. When the team talked about bullying, Samuel shared his own experience. 

“I was bullied at school because I am shorter than other people in my class,” he said softly. “When I shared my story on the radio, many of my classmates listened. After that, I noticed some changes, they stopped bullying me and started being kinder. That made me happy.”

Each episode of the Children’s Radio Programme reflects the creativity, empathy, and courage of these young broadcasters. They discuss topics such as climate change, hygiene, parenting, playing, education, and online safety, showing how deeply they understand the world around them.

Their enthusiasm has inspired other children in Maliana to ask how they can join too. “Many of our friends want to be part of the program,” said Samuel proudly. “They see how we learn and speak on the radio, and they also want to learn.”

By giving children, a space to speak, learn, and lead, UNICEF and its partners are helping to build a generation of thoughtful, confident young Timorese, children who know their rights and are ready to shape a better future for their communities. 

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