Bona Retsang gives SA you a voice

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Bona Retsang gives SA youth a voice --

Wed, 11 Feb 2015 10:31

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SCREEN AFRICA EXCLUSIVE: Vuselela Media, a non-profit company which aims to improve the lives of South African youths through media training and education, has expanded their reach with their current affairs and opinion show, Bona Retsang, now airing on SABC1. Previously the 24-minute show, which is targeted at 14- to 18-year -olds, broadcast on five community TV stations.

Bona Retsang is a collaboration between Vuselela, the European Journalism Centre (EJC), Free Press Unlimited and Kids News Network. By harnessing the power of community journalism, the show offers insights on pertinent issues faced by the youth of South Africa, from their own perspectives.

The show is unique in that it broadcasts content made on cell phones and entry- level camera equipment, made by high school students and youth community journalists from across the country. Bona Retsang utilises groundbreakers , which are leaders from the loveLife Media Wise programme, to identify and uncover issues which are affecting their community. The Media Wise programme aims to empower youths around the country with media and journalism skills, so that they are able to engage with their community and give it a voice. Shane Potgieter, a producer of the show said, The viewer is a part of making the show by showing us how they have over powered a problem, hence the name Bona Retsang, a Sotho term meaning Look at what we are doing .

Grace Matlhape, CEO of loveLife commented When you talk to young people you realise that they know their situation the best and they already have the answers. Yet there is such a gap between those perspectives and the solutions being shaped into policy. That s how our citizen journalism initiative came about, to give young people a voice.

Azile Elroy Maka, a groundbreaker from Kwanobuhle, said that the initiative and the show made it possible for smaller towns and communities to share their views and opinions with the rest of the country. I come from a small town and the media programme has really made me see things differently and allowed my community to share their thoughts and opinions. Often in these smaller communities, people are hesitant to tell their stories. They feel as though people only want to hear from some of the larger communities. And I thought, but what about mine?

Cherm ne Fisser of Free Press Unlimited added, Children are eager to find out what s going on in the world around them and when you can offer them access to reliable information, they are able to see that they may not be the only one in a particular situation.

Watch Bona Retsang on SABC 1 on Wednesdays at 16h00, Thursdays at 16h00 and Fridays at 16h00. Follow the show on Facebook or Twitter (@BonaRetsang).

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