Chatting With My Best Friend - Youth Life Skills Program in Nepal (Equal Access)

More than 1000 self-formed youth listening clubs and millions of young people tune in each week to "Chatting with My Best Friend" (Saathi Sanga Manka Kura), our youth chat radio show produced in partnership with UNICEF, that engages listeners in discussions with the hosts-the best friends-about how to negotiate relationships, continue their education, explore career opportunities and protect themselves from HIV. The thousands of letters received each month include questions for the chat show hosts to answer on-air, and accounts of how the show has inspired clubs to undertake local activities simply by following the suggestions on the radio show-one group built a 2 km road connecting their town to the main road. Recently, a new focus on the impact of the conflict by "Chatting." includes stories about widows or prisoners, as well as information about mine risk education, improvised explosive devices, small arms and coping with disabilities, displacement or migration due to the conflict. As Nepal undergoes substantial political transition, "Chatting" is the trusted voice of hope for youth during this critical period. The Chatting With My Best Friend program is funded by UNICEF and the Weyerhaeuser Family Foundation.

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Contributor: Anuradha Bhattacharjee
Published Date: May 7, 2008