Young reporters quiz world leaders

Youth reporters interviewing EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel

21 November 2008: Plan youth reporters have been quizzing presidents, prime ministers and commissioners at the European Union Development Days in Strasbourg.

View video of the youth reporters interviewing world leaders (3mb | 3 mins)

Together with the European Commission and the French Presidency, Plan sponsored 17 youth media journalists from Burkina Faso, Mali, Togo, Senegal, Sierra Leone, as well as Norway, Sweden and the UK to participate in and report on the EU’s annual development forum. 

Speaking out

The journalists interviewed a number of high-level participants including EU Development Commissioner Louis Michel, Prime Minister-Designate of Zimbabwe Morgan Tsvangirai, President Toure of Mali, President Boni of Benin and the Chairperson of the African Union, Jean Ping.

On Saturday 15 November, young people from West Africa and Europe met for a youth forum to discuss youth in local governance. This was followed by a public debate with professionals and politicians and a set of demands were drafted.

One of the young participants, Ramatoulaye Maiga from Mali, National Coordinator of the African Movement of Working Children and Youth, took these demands to the policymakers at an official EU Development Days round-table discussion.

Changing the future

Plan was also invited to stage ‘Shoot Nations 2008: young people in a changing climate' - an exhibition of photos taken by young people explaining how climate change affects their lives and how their commitment can change the future.

Another exciting event organised by Plan was the AURA concert, from the Poto-Poto project. AURA is a collective of West African musicians producing music and rap about child rights.

The right for children to participate in decisions that affect them is enshrined in the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, and increasingly children and youth are demanding that their voices be heard through radio, television and film.

Visit the Dev Days website to find out more and read reports from the youth reporters.

Learn more about Plan's work on child participation.