VOICES

Introduction

Voices was a highly successful media project carried out in September 2007, created in collaboration with Radio Focus in Veliko Tǔrnovo, encouraging young people from Penyo & Maria Children's Home to meet people from their local community and share a little something about their lives. Basic training in interview techniques and radio production was provided along the way, and the work produced was broadcast in an audio exhibition at the children's home.

The Need

Children in care do not have enough opportunities to meet other people from their local communities. Too much time is spent within the institutions that they live and they feel isolated from the rest of society. This lack of interaction prevents children in care from developing the sort of social and life skills that are essential for independent living. Voices will establish links between Penyo & Maria children's home and organisations in Veliko Tǔrnovo and get the children to interview and talk to people they might not otherwise meet: people such as students from the local university, journalists and local business owners.

Why Radio?

From day one, ZOV UK has carried out short interviews with the children to hear what they think about our work. One thing that we have always noticed is the children's instinctive desire to pick up the microphone and start questioning each other. Radio is a very simple medium and it's easy to learn, but it is based on two crucial skills: the ability to talk and the ability to listen. By harnessing these skills, Voices will help the children to develop into self-assured young adults, who have the confidence to interact with different people and in different situations.

How will it work?

The project will run for two weeks, with four afternoon sessions at Radio Focus, and evening workshops run by Katie Burningham at Penyo & Maria children's home. Katie Burningham will also be responsible for setting up the interviews and organising the exhibition at the home. At the radio station, the children will learn how to interview people and edit their work and have the chance to hear some of it broadcast on air. At Penyo & Maria children's home, they will be able to listen back to their work in an audio exhibition. We hope that the links established grow into partnerships that will help to improve the children's lives.

Project coordinators

Radio Focus is a well-established station that operates throughout Bulgaria. They have fifteen stations across the country and an online independent news service. Katie Burningham has worked with children in care in Bulgaria for the past four years. Last year she set up a choir at Penyo & Maria children's home and she is currently studying for an MA in radio at Goldsmiths College, London.

Funding

We would like to offer our warmest thanks to Oxford Aid to The Balkans and Clifford Chance law firm for their generous support for this project. Full details of the budget can be found in the complete project proposal, available on request.

If you would like more information about VOICES, please refer to the project proposal or contact Katie Burningham at katie@zovuk.org.uk