This year the 14th Media Kidocracy (kid+democracy) Konfrence which runs from th 6th to the 10th October 2014, is taking place in a historic year for media in South Africa. Bush Radio is celebrating 21 years since its first illegal broadcast, and 19 years of legal broadcasting. The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) is also celebrating 21 years of existence, Bush Radio played a pivotal role in the establishment of the NCRF.
As South Africans, we are celebrating 20 years of democracy, as a country we are slowly emerging from a violent apartheid past to a nation celebrating its freedom.
The theme for MKK2014 is “Celebrating 20 years of democracy: learning from the past and celebrating the future.”
One of the foundations of this democracy we have built is freedom of expression.
This right allows everyone, including youth, to express themselves, whether this is verbally, artistically, scientifically or in any other way. However, this right does not come without responsibilities and we need to look at how we use our hard fought for freedom.
Freedom of expression is entrenched in the Media Kidocracy Konfrence as it allows participants to express the issues they raise through their media productions.
* Several of Bush Radio’s programmes will be broadcasting live from the event, these are: The Breakfast Rush (6-9am), The Morning Cruise (9am – 12pm), Sakhisizwe (12 – 2pm) and Everyday People (4 – 7pm).
** MKK2014 takes places at Wortelgat situated on the blanks of the Kleinriver estuary so besides the intensive media programme and discussion sessions participants will also enjoy the picturesque fynbos as well as archery, abseiling, and hiking.
The past September school holidays saw Bush Radio host a very successful Media Kidocracy Konfrence (MKK2013) – 22 to 27 September 2013. This was the 13th conference which drew young people from Bontheheuwel to as far away as Germany, participating in various discussions and productions around the theme “the role of media in democracy“.
The conference took place at the beautiful Mizpah Conference Centre in the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve near Grabouw.
Team 1 of the photography group dealt with sexism and sexist stereotypes
Besides plenary sessions which dealt with media literacy, gender and elections, the conference also included visits to various media outlets around Cape Town (radio, television, print and online) and a special “give back to the community” outreach session at Agape 2 – home for disabled and abandoned children. The conference also included lifeskill sessions on active citizenship and substance abuse as well as daily outside broadcasts from Grabouw.
Team 2 of the photography group dealt with nature and pollution
The conference programme closed with what delegates always consider a highlight; the intensive production workshops which this year again included: television, radio, online, print, photography as well as two new productions; t-shirt and poster printing and a stage drama.
A special thanks goes to all the Bush Radio Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) facilitators and volunteers as well as the Bush Radio staff and trainees who provided the logistical support for the conference.
Bush Radio staff checking out “Media on the Move” – the newspaper produced by MKK2013 delegates
After intense planning and a busy week the 12th Annual Media Kidocracy Konfrence (MKK2012) came to an end on Friday, the 14th of December 2012.
About 80 youth delegates (aged 12 – 21) drawn from all over the country, SADC and as far away as Northern Ireland attended MKK.
Below are the “products” which showcase how the young people interpreted the various themes outlined for this year. For a large percentage of the delegates this was the first time they had been directly involved in the production of media. A strong element of all the MKK conferences have been linking a practical implementation of ideas generated in the various intensive panel discussions and workshop groups.
This year’s theme was Youth Participation in Democracy, with sub-themes being:
Youth Rights and Civic Participation – Human Rights
About 100 young delegates have gathered at Bush Radio’s 12th Media Kidocracy Konference (MKK) in Worcester.
This year’s theme is Youth Participation in Democracy, with sub-themes being Human Rights, Labour, Health, Arts and Culture, Gender, and Environment.
The opening address for the conference was presented by Bush Radio’s Managing Director, Brenda Leonard, where she gave an insight into the history of the conference and the outline of the days to follow.
MDDA CEO, Lumko Mtimde
Media Development and Diversity Agency CEO Lumko Mtimde said the gathering such as MKK is important especially today since its International Human Rights Day.He urged delegates to know their rights that are in our constitution.
Mtimde added that MDDA saw it fit to partner with Bush Radio for MKK in order for the delegates to understand the importance of media so that as young people they can participate actively in our democracy.
MDDA CEO Lumko Mtimde encouraged the young delegates to use the next few days at the conference to learn as much as possible so that they can actively participate in their community.
Communications expert, Trevor Davids
Advisor for Communications for the IEC Trevor Davids also gave some insight into how the election and registration process works.
Davids added that one person can make a difference because that one person can be the difference between a win or a lost for a party.
Busi Sikosana a former MKK and Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) participant also shared her experience of being part of the , South Africa’s leading children and youth radio and media project, CREW founded in 1996.
A big thank you to all the participants and facilitators of the Media Kidocracy Konference 2010 (17 – 18 December 2010) who helped make the conference a huge success.
A special word of thanks to the following individuals who gave their time and resources to participate and facilitate the discussions with the participants:
Bush Radio’s Media Kidocracy Konference (MKK 2009)met for the 10th time today at the St Agnes Primary School in Woodstock.
The station’s unique programme is a platform created to bring young people under one umbrella to discuss issues that affect them and uses media to address these.
Delivering his opening address at the conference, the station’s programme integrator Adrian Louw briefed the delegates and participants about the programme’s history.
“MKK initially started as Radio Kidocracy Konference about ten years ago enabling the youth to gather and discuss issues that affect them within the media landscape,” said Louw.
He highlighted that even though financial constraints were persistent in the work of the programme, emphasised that MKK will take its full course.
He challenged participants to engage in debate around issues that affect them, and to empower themselves with the resources and opportunities at their disposal.
Jennifer Hartnick a former teacher and currently Western Cape Provincial Parliament MP reiterated to the youth that they should make use of the available opportunities.
Western Cape Provincial Parliment's Chaiperson of Education, Sports and Culture, Jennifer Hartnick
“You should count yourselves lucky that today you have great opportunities such as these, we only dreamt of,” Hartnick said.
Giving a soulful address Hartnick, who also chairs the education, sport and cultural affairs committee, said with her experience as teacher, she likes working with children and it’s a point to tackle issues that affect young people in her work.
“During June we do have youth debates in parliament and we would like to have the MKK part of our youth programmes,” added Hartnick.
Veteran participant , Mfundo Dafeti, who has been with the programme for five consecutive years, said his experience has been great and wonderful throughout the years.
“Because of my enjoyment and wonderful work I did in this programme I will definitely be part of it again next year although 2009 is officially my final year,” said Dafeti.
Dave McNamara chief director at the Social Development department said MKK’s theme of “Away from Violence” was relevant, given the high rates of alcohol and substance abuse which is a major contributor to violence in the province.
Not only serious talk got the delegates moving; Cape Town song writer and composer, Chad Saaiman, kept the audience thrilled throughout his performance.
Chad Saaiman getting into the groove at MMK 2009
Some of the topics to be tackled at this year’s meeting include violence and drug abuse amongst others.
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