WALKING THE TALK ON THE MDG

Youth Voices on Air: Walking the Talk on MDG - Philippines Click here for a summary of the Voice of the Youth Network (VOTY). Click here for a summary of the VOTY radio programme "Lakas Kabataan - Tinig Kabataan: Recharged! (LKTKR)." Summary In August 2005, Voice of the Youth Network (VOTY), Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development, and DZME Radyo Uno 1530 kHz (which airs the VOTY programme "Lakas Kabataan - Tinig Kabataan Fully Charged!") launched a 2-month youth radio programme called "Youth Voices on Air: Walking the Talk on MDG." The aim is to build youth-led multi-stakeholder partnerships for the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) by raising awareness about the Goals among Filipino youth and community members. In short, through radio, the project seeks to involve key stakeholders and decision-makers from the government, private sector, civil society, and young people in an interactive debate on pressing global and national issues related to the MDGs Main Communication Strategies This project uses the medium of radio in an effort to raise community members' awareness about the MDGs, and to encourage young people's involvement in the process. The idea is that young media-makers can use radio broadcasting to reach out to key stakeholders - e.g., non-government organisations (NGOs) and development-oriented institutions - to progressively gain public support and encourage leading groups to do their share to achieve the Goals. Geared toward nurturing a vibrant community of Filipino youth advocating and working for the MDGs, the programme broadcast its first segment a day after International Youth Day. The radio programme is aired every Saturday from 12:00 to 1:00 pm, a time slot meant to be convenient for young listeners. Entertaining features are interspersed with information sharing to draw listeners' attention to the issues being discussed. An introductory song capturing each weekly episode's featured Goal is played to enliven the discussions. Performed by Filipino artists, these songs were written in Tagalog and English and compiled as an MDG awareness album that is expected to be released soon. Development Issues Youth. Key Points Organisers lament (but are inspired by) the fact that "there is an evident lack of inclusive participation and active engagement of and by young people in this important process of building community consciousness of the MDGs. It is unfortunate that avenues available for Filipino youth to participate in the campaign is either limited or simply not there." Partners VOTY, Philippine Resources for Sustainable Development, and DZME Radyo Uno 1530 kHz For more information, contact: Voice of the Youth Network (VOTY): Mariczar "Emsie" Reyes [email protected] Angelicum Fernandez-Oda [email protected] Robert Sagun [email protected] Tel: (63) (0)920-560-32-69 and (63) (0)921-476-48-93 VOTY website