(EMU) – St. Kitts, February 10, 2015: The National Commission for UNESCO is calling on youth of the Federation to let their voices be heard by way of the proliferation of media houses which have become available in the Federation over the past decade.
According to Secretary General of the National Commission Mr. Antonio Maynard, the observance of World Radio Day on February 13 brings with it an opportunity to highlight this year’s theme “Greater Representation of Young Men and Women”.
He has therefore communicated with local media Houses and radio stations in particular to find meaningful ways of highlighting youth in their programming not only for Radio Day but into the future.
The United Nations Educational and Scientific Organization (UNESCO) has identified the issue of exclusion of youth as a “reflection of wider social, economic and democratic exclusion” throughout the globe.
A press release from Director-General of UNESCO Irina Bokova states, “Many (young people) have risked their lives in the service of information and the radio. Supporting them better by giving them greater voice, we can air innovative ideas and new viewpoints and renew collective energies…UNESCO contributes to disseminating education, culture and information, by backing programmes created and hosted by young people.”
Mr. Maynard highlighted however that what youth have any number of avenues for outreach, there needs to be a more systematic approach to incorporating and exposing youth issues in the daily dialogue that takes place on radio.
The National Commission has called on community groups to celebrate the day as well as for schools and the Clarence Fitzroy Bryant College to respond positively and have students engage in media productions in collaboration with proactive media houses.
—30—