UNICEF conducted first-in-Kazakhstan training on media products for and with children

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ASTANA. July 3. KAZINFORM The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) in Kazakhstan held training Media for children: a master class on June 20-24, 2011 in Almaty. Some 70 participants from Astana, Almaty and other regions of Kazakhstan underwent the training to master production of developmentally and culturally appropriate media for children, their parents and caregivers.

The goal of the workshop was to hone skills and deepen the knowledge on how to produce high quality communication materials for, with and about children, including animation, child-centred TV, social video spots, books and other media materials, the press release od the UNICEF in Kazakhstan reports.

Photographers, journalists, representative from TV media outlets, animators, designers, composers, sound editors, video producers, script writers, video engineers, specialists from state bodies, persons with disability and non-governmental organizations (NGOS) working with children with special needs participated in the training.

«Media for children: a master class" - is one of numerous trainings conducted around the globe and for first time in Kazakhstan by Ms Barbara Kolucki. She participated in the production of Sesame street series and has worked for UNICEF as a consultant for over 20 years. Media products produced as a result of her training have won several awards at international festivals.

After studying theory and methodology as well as critiquing communication from other countries, the participants created their own media materials. The training resulted in production of illustrated and photo-based books, short-length cartoons and video spots highlighting issues related to HIV, social inclusion of children with special needs, prevention of violence among children, healthy life skills for youth and the psycho-social needs of early childhood.

On the final day, 24 of June, the participants presented the materials and received certificates. The production will undergo pre-testing and be refined, where needed, for use and dissemination via the mass media and distribution through partners.

»You have done a fantastic job. In just five days you were able to learn and put into practice the principles of production of quality communication for children. It is hard to believe that before the workshop you didn't know each other, but you united into production groups and performed excellent team work. I do hope you will continue this best job in the world - creating media products for children, " UNICEF Representative Hanaa Singer told the participants at the closing ceremony of the workshop.

"I have been to many training seminars, but this one has been the most productive, interesting and exciting. It taught us basic things on how to love, cherish and understand all children regardless their abilities and disabilities and age, the things that we all know but tend to forget, " said one of the facilitators, Zulfia Baysakova.

The organizers of the training hope that the skills and knowledge gained at the training will enable the participants to bring media products for, about and with children to be created in Kazakhstan to a new level of quality in order to meet the needs of the most marginalized children and their caregivers.

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