'Now I am a child journalist'
My father is a day laborer. Our family is heavily depended on his little income. At one stage, I was about to quite of my study. There was no hope, nobody to help me. In that situation, I became an active member of Shishu Prokash of Gazipur. After the attachment with shishu Prokash team, I have been started to receive some money in return of my bi-monthly report as well as personal report. I don’t know exactly, how the audience would take this opinion? I must say, with this money I meet my educational expenses.` Mosaddek, a child journalist of Gazipur Shishu Prokash team expressed his gratitude to Shishu Prokash such way. Now he is a student of class eight at Shripur Pilot High School. He also stood first in his class.
Like Mosaddek, many children across the country get the real taste of life being the children journalists of Shishu Prokash.
They are not only getting their rights but also helps other children to get their rights through reporting.
Mosaddek said, ` as a child journalist I can write for the underprivileged children like me, those who have been depriving their basic need and rights. I think, I have gotten a great opportunity to be perfect in future. It is a matter of joy for my family. So, I acknowledge to Shishu Prokash as well as grateful to the Mass-Line media Centre and Unicef.
Translated by Shiahu Prokash Desk.
Feelings of a child journalist
Hi, I am Mahmud Shakil Imon. As a child journalist I work for the underprivileged children. I feel proud, when I come to the contact with them to know their problems as well as ambitions to be great in future. I trust, working, as a child journalist would extend my knowledge and helpful to continue my study successfully. For these opportunities, I acknowledge my debt to the Shishuprokash of Mass Line Media Center and UNICEF. Not only for me but also many other children every nock and corner in Bangladesh has been boosted up to a noble profession like journalism.
Since 2009, I have been working as a child journalist. Now, I become popular in my locality for my jobs. Specially, friends respect me than ever before. Even my family members encourage me to do something for the underprivileged children. My mother becomes so happy, as she sees my printed name in the newspapers. I feel urge when my mom and elder sister encourage me to continue the task. Even my relatives as well as my teachers support me in this regard.
Day by day, I have been familiar among my friends. When any of my friends feel problems in his or her personal life, comes to me and wants solution. I try to help my friend in my level best.
As far I understand that the most interesting part of journalism is to know different types of feelings of the common people. As a child journalist, I can easily understand the feelings of my age level children.
In collecting information I have to face problems. The children want to know, whether it would bring any change to their fate or not? Most of the children think that I would able to help them financially.
When I proceed to the working children to observe their real conditions the owner of the factories become angry with me, decline to cooperate. Most of the time, I do not receive well behavior from the owner side. Sometimes the working children decline to reveal the facts in fear of loosing their jobs. Even, the working children take into account that I am collecting information to harm them. Then, I try to pursue them. When I able to make them understand, they cooperate me.
In the beginning, I thought, working, as a child journalist would be only a matter of joy and happiness. But, reality is totally different. In doing my job, now I can realize that joys, sorrows, morbidity as well as happiness stay in the same house. Before coming to this profession, I did not have clear idea about news; I could not realize the poor conditions of underprivileged children. At present, I must say that being a child journalist I know a bit my surroundings. I feel proud to be a part of Shishu Prokash.`
----Mahmud Shakil Imon. Chapaignobabgonj.
Translated by Shishu Prokash Desk.
Shishuprokash radically changed Joty’s life.
Joty, a physically challenged girl would sit for the S.S.C examination in 2011, an active child journalist of shishuprokash in Manikgonj as well as a sincere team member of Bornon Kobita Pathchhokro. All these reflect her present status, but once, she had to face lots of obstacles when she tried to get admission into schools as a regular student.
It was curse for her to be physically challenged. How she would come to school regularly? Would she be able to maintain the pace of study with other regular students? The school authority had many questions like these.
In the main time, Shishu Prokash team of Manikgong stood beside her. They featured her sufferings and struggles in the newspaper. After publishing her story peoples from different sections of society have been extended their helping hand for Joty. Now, Joty’s parents are no more worried about her study as well as treatment.
Joty’s father S.M.Mamun is a tailor and mother Mahfuja Akter is a housewife at Bandutia village in Manikgonj. She had born with physical disability. She could not walk even at her eight years old. But she was zeal to study. Joty first learnt how to read and write from her mother at home. Problem rose as she went to get admission into school. The school authority did not want to take her as a regular student due to her physical disability. In the main time, MDPOD, an organization for disable people helped her to get admission into the school. Through this organization, the Shishu Prokash team of Manikgonj informed about Joty. Then, the child journalists of Manikgonj wrote a good number of features about Joty’s miserable conditions. The shishu Prokash team not only featured Joty’s miserable conditions but also included her as a regular team member. In that case, the Shishu Prokash team did not include her showing partiality, rather Joty proved herself to be a member of Shishu Prokash in the process of examination.
Flowing Shishu Prokash report about Joty, the Daily Kalerkontho and Ekusha Television’s reporter made a report in this regard. After telecasting that report, a Garman expatriate student in return of anonymity donated seventy five thousand BDT for Joty. Later, Abdus Salam, chairman of ETV handed over the money to Joty. ETV broadcasted that program live.
As a physically Shishu Prokash has given me a new life, it makes me brave, taught me that a disable person has equal rights to lead a normal life like other people, says Joty in tearful eyes. Joty’s mother Mahfuja Akter says, if Shishu Prokash did not introduce Joty, it was impossible for us to continue her study as well as treatment. Now Joty thinks positively about her life, she added.
----Child Journalist Team of Manikganj.
Translated by Shishu Prokash Desk.
