Thanks to the Plan Listening Club, Ibrahima is now enrolled in school

June 2011: When children unite and work towards change, they can be a force capable of moving mountains. Even when the mountain may be their parents. Plan recognizes this power and works with children and youth to enable it.

One such program in Guinea is Listening Clubs. The Listening Clubs are connected to the Kids Wave radio programme, “The Voice of Finda and Alpha.” The program features shows that raise awareness of a community to important child rights issues. The Listening Clubs are groups of children who gather to listen to the program together then discuss the issues presented impact their communities. The Clubs then take the information learned to members of their community, opening discussions on important issues for child safety and protection like violence, abuse and labour.

Taking it to the streets

The members of the Listening Clubs do not shy from confronting adults to change their ways. As they did with Ibrahima* a boy of 8 years from the Guéckédou commune in the Forest Region of Guinea where Plan has been working for 22 years.

Ibrahima’s family could not afford the fees for school, so he stayed at home. His mother began to abuse him physically, emotionally and verbally, saying “It’s me who gave you birth into the world, I can do whatever I want to you because you belong to me.”

Ibrahima came to the attention of the Plan Listening Club members. Members of the club visited his home to learn more about the situation.  They confronted his mother about how her behaviour was frightening and harming her son. After an afternoon-long discussion, she realized that beating her child was wrong and she agreed to seek help in changing her ways.

The Plan Listening Club also helped facilitate financial support so that Ibrahima could be enrolled at school.

One community at a time

Plan Guinea supports 18 Listening Clubs throughout its operational areas. Usually, each club has 24 youth members from a community. Plan provides a radio, batteries and support in facilitating discussions following the broadcasts. In addition, club members receive training on child rights. Some club members help develop ideas and participate in the production of radio broadcasts.

By enabling children to gather and use their collective voice, Plan is working to ensure that children grow up in safe, supportive environments, are educated and become active participants in civil society.

* Name changed for child protection reasons

Read more about Plan's work in Guinea.