MKK2013: Raising our voices – taking control of the media

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.

Click here for the radio programme: “The Role of Media in elections and democracy”

 

Some of the MKK2013 t-shirts and posters on display

Bush Radio would like to thank the Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung Media Africa (FES Media – Africa) for their invaluable support to be able to run the conference as well as the Whale Coast Media Monitor – John Matthews and team, Independent Elections Commission Western Cape (IEC WC) – Courtney Sampson, Chris Balie and team and Trevor Davids, Democracy Development Programme (DDP), Charles King, Damelin, Voice of the Cape, CTTV, The Daily Voice, Community Policing Forum Mitchells Plain (CPF), Assitej, Independent Newspapers – Vusi Baloyi, South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency (SANCA), Legend Ten Motion Pictures – Lydon Campbell, Gender Steps, Shariefa’s Catering and Mizpah conference centre.

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

Related: Media conference empowers youth for the 13th year #MKK2013

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MKK 2009 presents a bright future

Putting MKK 2009 together was not without its challenges, like others we too have suffered due to the economic meltdown.

 We are proud to say that the 10th Media Kidocracy Konference (MKK 2009) which ran from the 14th to the 18th December 2009 was a resounding success.

On the final day the young delegates (12 – 18 years old) presented their productions in a four hour closing ceremony which included video, online, graffiti and radio presentations.

 The closing ceremony also included performances by young Capetonian talent such as Shaz & B, Apple and Cinnamon and Grand Alliance.

The photographers have captured the contrast between the beauty of our natural landscape and the filth that soils it.

The television group challenged us to re-examine our so-called natural ways of being as men and women with respect to violence within the home.

The graffiti group showed through their piece that although we may differ linguistically and/or culturally, we can live in harmony.

The online and radio groups have spread the word that violence is not and never will be an option, be it violence inflicted by others through forced child labour or self-inflicted violence in the form of substance abuse.

WATCH THE ONLINE GROUP’S POWERPOINT PRESENTATION (CLICK HERE)

LISTEN TO THE RADIO GROUP’S FEATURE (CLICK HERE)

Together these products send a resounding message that states that their vision for tomorrow is one in which they wish not to live in fear and is filled with hope.

We would like to thank the following individuals and organizations for their assistance through advice and contributions in making this conference a success:

St Agnes Primary School and in particular the principal Mr. Alfonso Louw and caretaker Mr. Marsh.

Mr. Darion Pillay from Woolworths Financial Services

Mr Neil John Smith from John Smith Photography and Design

Mr. Brad Hale from Wild Organic Foods

Superfoto Canal Walk

Shoprite Woodstock

Ms. Lache Woldson from MTN

Trevor Muller from The Indibano Group

Loaded Smoothies

MAK1

We would also like to thank:

Elroy Williams for logistical support

Brenda Leonard and Belinda Sepkit from Bush Radio’s admin department who made the lunches

All the production facilitators and content facilitators.

The guest speakers who joined us on the first day of the conference, especially Ms Jennifer Hartnick from the Provincial Parliament whose kind and gentle words set a good tone for the conference.

We would also like to thank our delegates who joined us from as far a-field as Northern Ireland (Public Achievement) and Canada (Canada World Youth).

Young people tackle the media

Media Kidocracy Konference 2009 Bush Radio in association with the Children’s Radio Education Workshop (CREW) project is in the final stages of planning its 10th annual Media Kidocracy Konference (MKK).

The conference will take place from the 14th – 18th of December 2009 at St. Agnes Primary School in Woodstock.

A delegate at the first conference 10 years ago

Youth between the ages of 12 and 18 will get together to explore issues that are pertinent to themselves and their peers as well as use different forms of media to develop a media campaign that will create social awareness.

Topics will include: citizenship, child labour, substance abuse, language and culture, gender-based violence and pollution.

These will be explored through various media such as dance and/or drama, online and/or print, radio, T.V. and photography.

Through these media, they can critically appraise where they are now in life and how their current behaviour will help or hinder them achieve the future they want.

Background on MKK

As part of a growing need for youth participation in the decision-making process and policy formulation around children’s broadcasting, Bush Radio initiated a conference which would tackle these issues and also feed into this debate.

The Kidocracy (Kid-democracy) name was created for the event to denote a form of society characterized by social equality and acceptance of young people with representation for and by young people.

The Media Kidocracy Konference aims to establish critical awareness and understandings amongst young people by exposing youth to information and experiences that will enable them to identify issues they feel are relevant as well as explore the role of the media in creating an understanding of the social issue.

MKK also assists participants in devising strategies for addressing the social issues by using the media as a tool to help resolve and address these issues.

Corporates or individulas  interested in sponsorship opportunites around the event should contact Brenda Leonard.