"Dear Carlos. I deeply respect the work that you and your friends are doing as child reporters in Angola. Even though you have plenty of difficulties to deal with in your everyday lives, you dedicate a great part of your spare time to informing other children about their rights. And your programmes are about anything from diseases to the right to go to school. You are great role models to other children and young people, not just in your own country, but here in Denmark too."

With these words, the actor Lars Mikkelsen handed over the annual Children's Rights Prize to 18-year old Carlos Mezenga, who - almost tongue-tied - managed to blurt out a big thank you. However, his tongue sprang right back into action as soon as he turned to his great passion: being an interviewer. He asked the famous actor about children's conditions in Denmark, about being an actor, and about the possible damage to children from watching screen violence.

Adults must learn too.

Carlos in headphones
Every week, Radio Uíge gives a voice to children in the radio programme "Parque Infantil". About 10,000 listeners tune in, and everything is told from the children's viewpoint. It is the children who set the agenda. It is the children who conduct the interviews and do the reports. However, both children and the adults listen to it.
"This is as it should be, because the adults have a lot to learn too, especially about children's rights", says Carlos Mezenga. He has taken part ever since the programme was launched in 2005, and he is visibly proud of the product. "The 4000 euros that come with Save the Children's prize will be spent on making more programmes. This is necessary until the day when all children go to school, indeed until the day when all children in Angola have all their rights fulfilled", says the editor solemnly.

Background: Since 1995, Save the Children has been awarding its Children's Rights Prize every 20th of November, the International Children's Rights Day. The honour is bestowed upon an individual or group working in an exemplary manner to accomplish the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child.

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”Back to school” is the children of Angola's first wish for their future. “A roof to sleep under” is the second wish. To attend school they need to be registered. To be registered they need a home. Pencils and books cost money. It may not be much to you, but it is an enormous amount to the street children of Uíge.
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