Jeunes Wakat… live and in public

At the Palace of Youth and Culture Jean-Pierre Guingané in Ouagadougou, young people and guests were asked to discuss: “The contribution of young people to the promotion of peace and security in Burkina Faso”.

During the “vox pop” section, a number of young #MédiaSahel representatives shared their views on how young people could become more engaged with peace and security. Assitan, a young student from the Hauts Bassins region, believes that everyone must remind themselves of the values of social cohesion, once the pride of Burkina Faso, and that, above all else, these values must be passed on between generations.
"Families must keep in mind that they occupy a special position in society. Parents must support young people and instil in them these values of togetherness that we all know."
As for D Marcel, a teacher from the Eastern region, he believes that the peace and security programmes must fundamentally engage with the idea of employing young people, stating "the government should invest more in training young people and providing them with access to jobs. For many young people, that would stop them from being lured towards committing deviant behaviour."

Entertainment provided by a DJ and various artists punctuated the conventional sections of Jeunes Wakat, recorded in public and broadcast live on the show’s Facebook page. From Dougou Kibarya to the Facebook journalist’s sketch – everything that makes Jeunes Wakat an informative, funny and interactive show was gathered together. The Town Crier, Sana Bob, also made an appearance to promote the values of togetherness through his song Ensemble.

At the end of the programme, UNALFA made a point of thanking everyone who is actively involving young people in societal debates within their communities. Two young MediaSahel representatives also received certificates.

The programme is broadcast every Sunday from 5 pm to 6 pm on 24 radio stations in Burkina Faso, with 30 minutes of programming in French and 30 minutes of interactivity in the national language (Móoré, Dyula, Fula and Gourmanché). The programme is broadcast in its entirety in the national languages on the last Sunday of every month.
‘Jeunes Wakat’ news can be found on its Facebook page.