Voices of Change

The Ukerewe Young Reporters

By Standing Voice

August 27^th, 2019

The Ukerewe Young Reporters are a talented collective of broadcasters harnessing the power of radio to advocate for change. Established by Standing Voice in 2016, the group comprises 13 young people—with and without albinism, between the ages of 15 and 25—using radio broadcasts to document the stories of their community, and share their own perspectives and priorities with a wider world of listeners. The Young Reporters meet weekly to train and record new material, and travel regularly to mainland Mwanza, where they partner with the Mwanza Youth and Children’s Network to air their content to a regional network audience of thousands. For participants, this training has become a route to professional empowerment, and an opportunity to catalyse stronger advocacy around albinism in Tanzania.

The Summer Skills Workshop 2019 gave our aspiring reporters the opportunity to embark on a course of intensive, advanced training, under the guidance of local radio presenter and workshop facilitator Morange John. The workshop consolidated participants’ knowledge of key media topics—ethics and consent, audio recording, storytelling, news, and on-location reporting—and strengthened their confidence in the use of specialist radio equipment. The group received specific training on how to engage with vulnerable contributors, practising professional interview techniques and crafting agendas for use in community interviews.

"Thanks to Lake FM and the Standing Voice team for giving me the opportunity again to come and train the youths at the UTC." — Morange John

As training progressed, the Young Reporters began preparations for a comprehensive radio documentary. Members of the group visited the Ukerewe District Office to interview the District Administration Secretary about the challenges involved in the protection of people with albinism. The group also learned how to edit their audio on specialist software. On the workshop’s final day, the group used the skills they had honed to record their complete radio show: material that will be shared in public broadcasts across the Tanzania’s Lake Zone in the months that lie ahead.

The Ukerewe Young Reporters are emerging as the voices of Tanzania’s tomorrow. Together, they have found a space on the airwaves to speak back to a society that has historically endeavoured to silence them. With your support, the group can continue reaching thousands of listeners to ensure people with albinism are seen—and heard—like never before.