PRIX JEUNESSE INTERNATIONAL and WADADA News for Kids in Kosovo
On June 4, about a hundred kids, teenagers and teachers in the town of Malisheva, Kosovo took a break from their casual school routine and gathered in the cultural center “Tahir Sinani”. What for?
A one-day event devoted to the youth of the city was organized by Prix Jeunesse International and WADADA News for Kids. The day was moderated by Jan-Willem Bult, head of Children, Youth & Media department of the Amsterdam based organization Free Press Unlimited.The event was inspired and coordinated by the young activist and English teacher from the Ibrahim Mazreku school, Veton Kastrati.
Divided in two sections the day started with “The Oscar’s of Children’s TV” where the participants had the chance to watch and vote for the best kids TV programs, all of which stood out by the latest Prix Jeunesse International festivals. Prix Jeunesse International “suitcase”, run by Prix Jeunesse Foundation are workshops directed to professionals working on children’s TV programmes but screenings are also open to educators, researchers and students. The selected films were partly drawn by Jan-Willem’s work as a creator and producer. Among them there was the short-film Genji, winner of Prix Jeunesse International 2008 UNESCO Prize. In the afternoon Jan-Willem Bult conducted the WADADA News for Kids workshop where kids, teenagers and teachers watched and reflected on WADADA News for Kids international and items from the 14 participating countries of the network. WADADA News for Kids envisions to offer children and youth across the world a voice by making independent, quality, fair and reliable media content, available, and accessible to them.
With respect to this goal, the WADADA News for Kids training sessions are initiatives that aim to provide efficient training to young journalists on how to produce and broadcast a quality news television programme for children and youth and reflect issues relevant to them. “ I was surprised about the commitment of the people of Malisheva to connect to the world. They were really proud to be part of the international network of WADADA News for Kids”, Jan-Willem says.
The workshop in Kosovo is a first step aiming to establish a gate of communication and further collaboration between Free Press Unlimited and local partners in the Balkan region.