NOVEMBER 2003 – DECEMBER 2005 –
THE START OF THE YOUTH-COMMUNITY RADIO PROJECT
The end of November 2003 saw the start of the pilot phase of the Youth Community Radio Project. 8 Community radio stations in the Western Cape viz. Radio Atlantis (Atlantis), Valley FM (Worcester), Radio KC (Paarl), MFM (University of Stellenbosch), Radio 786 (Athlone), Bush Radio (Salt River), UCT Radio (University of Cape Town) and Radio Zibonele (Khayelitsha – Cape Town); were invited to be involved in a project that would provide radio training for youth in their communities. From December 2003 till May 2004, 4 youth were recruited from each area and attended Saturday workshops at the Broadcasting Training Institute (BTI) in Salt River. The training consisted of theory and practical sessions that would teach them the skills to produce and host a funky yet informative youth radio show in their communities on their community radio station. After much deliberation and a democratic vote amongst the youth the project was called “DIGGZ YOUTH A’LIVE”.
Diggz referring to:
1.) A house students share with friends during their university career, with specific reference to “this is our place”. The radio shows/project being a space where youth feel comfortable to air their views/opinions on pertinent youth issues.
2.) Also, youth digging deeper into issues relevant to them
From June to November 2004, the workshops took place monthly and WWMP extended the project to invite students from 16 disadvantaged schools in each target area to attend the workshops. As a result there was greater participation and commitment to the project during 2005.
At the time it was also recognized that airing of key youth issues, in the form of information, analysis and debate is not enough to really impact on the harsh realities facing young people. Real impact requires that young people themselves get organised around these problems.
We introduced a new dimension to the Diggz Youth A’live Project in 2005, i.e. we set ourselves the task of facilitating and providing support and assistance for youth organisation. The workshops were structured into a Youth Leadership & Activist Course since March 2005.
2004 Evaluation reports indicated that youth in Worcester, Paarl and Stellenbosch irregularly attended workshops in Salt River, Cape Town because of the distance. Parents of these learners expressed apprehension in sending their children to the workshops. As a result we initiated much needed workshops in Ceres, central to youth in the Boland Region. The attendance by the youth in these areas improved dramatically which in turn allowed the participants to share experiences from their communities.
WWMP initiated a cultural, live event called the “DIGGZ GIGG” which took place in September 2004. This was not just a ‘JOL’/ PARTY but an event which provided talented youth from the target areas with a platform to showcase dance, lyrical and vocal skills. Due to funds and unsuccessful funding applications we were not able to host our 2nd Diggz Gig in September 2005. We were able to organise a small but successful Youth Day event in 2005, which took place in Worcester, in the Boland region. It was our very first event where youth participants took ownership and worked together on the programme, performances and assisted WWMP staff with the logistics of the day.
In September 2004, we produced our very own mini magazine called the “Diggz Zine” to promote - issues pertinent to youth such as education, the right to work and various socio-economic and political rights; and our radio slots and project activities. Since April 2005 the youth involved in the project took ownership of this publication with WWMP coordinating it and have successfully produced 3 publications since then. Youth received print media training throughout the year to improve upon the first edition.
We realised that not all youth are passionate about radio; therefore we initiated print media and video workshops with the assistance of the Arts and Media Access Centre (AMAC) based in Cape Town. Participation has been greater with youth having 3 media components to choose from and it is compulsory for all participants to be actively involved in the media components of the project. With the expansion of the media component of the project and the fact that youth participants gain leadership skills via their involvement in the project, it only seemed appropriate for the name to change to “DIGGZ YOUTH A’LIVE MEDIA & LEADERSHIP PROJECT.”
Project Coordinator
Workers World Media Productions
021 448 5076 - fax
fax to email: 0866617260
076 0977709 - WORK CELL
