20 September 2011

The University Church of St Mary the Virgin in Oxford hosted a talk with Kofi Annan, former Secretary General of the UN, this Saturday to launch the UK branch of the charity Children's Radio Foundation.

Speaking on the future of Africa and how young people can respond to the challenges of their generation Mr Annan highlighted the importance of strengthening character and values in young people. He said 'We are living in a fast changing world. We need values to act as anchors for our personalities'.

The Children's Radio Foundation (CRF), which currently operates 35 projects world wide, was praised by Mr Annan as a way for African young people to take control of their own future. The project trains young people to produce their own weekly broadcasts, developing self-esteem and providing young people with an opportunity to discuss issues that affect them on a local and even national scale. One project in Tanzania produced and broadcast by street children has audience figures of over seven and a half million.

In interview with Edward Mortimer, trustee of CRF, Mr Annan discussed the importance of the voice of the majority in a world where the fundamentalist minority is making itself heard. 'People of faith must speak out and say, this is not what we believe. These people do not represent us,'he said.
With 50% of the population of Africa under 25, empowering young people to speak for themselves is vital for both open dialogue of the issues facing communities and the promotion of peace.

Mr Annan praised the clean up efforts of the citizens of London in the wake of the riots and the refusal of the Norwegian people to compromise their beliefs and way of life after the shooting at a youth camp near Oslo. Speaking to young people in the UK he encouraged them to take an active role in their local community and to recognize that although we cannot solve the problems of the world alone, 'If each of us does something, collectively we will make a difference.'