At last something is coming around the corner. You might agree with me that children have always been delicate assets of our world communities. No wonder the United Nations formed an organ looking at their plight - UNICEF. Much as a lot of things and programmes have been done to do with children, their voice has been heard from the background. Its either someone does something for them or dictates their choices. And child rights activists will tell you that this is child exploitation.

Can you now imagine listening to a child sharing his or her views independently on radio without someone putting words in their mouths? It could sound quite ambitious to some, but this is what 2005 is looking forward to on Radio Chikuni. Suggested as the best idea for Interactive Radio Instructions (IRI) Campaign Programmes for 2005 under the Education Development Centre (EDC), 'Our Talk' will be the first radio programme in Zambia to be hosted by children. As if that is not enough, this programme will be hosted not just by children but IRI or Taonga Learners.

These are children who could not go to formal schools for various reasons, among them being lack of money due to poverty, traditional beliefs, having no one willing to sponsor them and other logistical hindrances. Called Ijwi Lyesu in Tonga, the programme producers, who are children themselves, will be hosting fellow children to discuss various issues that are affecting their daily lives.

The executive producers will just be helping them identify the issues and how to present the programme. This is in an effort to give them time to share their thoughts, hopes, visions and ideas to the development of their communities. It begins on Friday 17:30hrs starting January 15, 2005. As they always say that children are the leaders of tomorrow, 'Our Talk' will be shaping and tidying the path for their ideal. As Jesus said "the brick that the builders ignored became the most sought for later. "Today's rejects are tomorrow's heroes."

You may get the story from our website http://www.chikuniradio.org