Communicating Rights for Children: A Study on Children’s Participation in a West African Radio Campaign

This 82-page report is a case study of children’s participation in "Je suis enfant mais j'ai aussi mes droits!" (I am a child but I have my rights too!), a West African radio programme created by Plan that is designed to raise awareness of children’s rights in nine countries in the region. The report, based on observations and interviews, analyses children’s participation in this project in Senegal and Burkina Faso. The study includes an analysis and an interview section where children and adults share their experiences from working on the campaign, as well as a background chapter which explores the concept of children’s participation and earlier research in this field.

In analysing children’s participation in the project, the author looks at two key questions: In what ways do children participate, and how can this be valued? To answer this, the author examines how children are selected, what tasks they are given, and what possibilities they have for real influence. This analysis is then compared to Roger Hart’s theory on children's participation, the Ladder of Participation. This theory sets out basic requirements for children's meaningful participation in projects.

The author suggests that participation can be seen as a means, a sort of technique, to more effective implementation of foreign development projects. However, participation - as a process - could also be regarded as an end in itself. The author's analysis showed that the children are involved in a meaningful way; that they are learning about their rights; and that they are making their voices heard and having fun doing it. However, the author also found that there was a lack of follow-up with and feedback to the participants; there were language barriers; and there was limited room for children's initiative within the framework of the project.

According to the report, adults involved in the production and broadcast of "I’m a child but I have my rights too!" have witnessed significant changes in the participating children’s behaviour. As reported here: they take more initiative; they open up and get rid of complexes; they discover new talents; and they claim their rights. The children themselves confirmed this and often expressed a feeling of pride due to the fact that they had done something meaningful, not only for themselves, but also for others.


The report also mentions that the participants themselves are convinced that children acting in the radio spots attract listeners' attention. It is explained that people in Senegal and Burkina Faso are not used to hearing children’s voices on the air and find this interesting. According to the report, this would mean that children’s participation is a means to success for the campaign of spreading the core messages related to children’s rights.