“Esma3oona” (Listen to Us) won the Silver Award, Best TV Program at the 2009 Cairo International Film Festival for Children as well as the Silver Award from the Ministry of Culture for Best TV Program. The episodes talk about child related issues like circumcision, abuse, importance of education and speaking out for themselves. “One of “Esma3oona” top priorities is to protect children against all types of abuse and violence within the social justice system, health care and participate fully in decisions that regard themselves and their community”, explains Mr. Mohamed Kamel, Media Coordinator of Plan Egypt. The program also held some other projects like the VSLA (Village Saving and Loan Association) Asmaa, 15, from Khayrallah village, participates in this program “rather than spending my money on useless stuff, I save some as each kid pays 3 LE every week” she tells. The children also participate in projects like making liquid soap “an easy, commercial project” as some of them say. Kids at first watched “Esma3oona”, programs with their families and then decided to join as they saw the positive results from the program. There were lectures for raising awareness which attracted the children to join the projects. Children want to send lots of messages through the program like early marriage which is a nightmare of every girl in Khairallah village “My neighbor is 13 and married a 16 year old and got divorced a week later as her mother in law used to beat her”, Rania, 14, tells us. Child labor is also a major problem in this village, “child labor is a very dangerous fact out there, children drop out of school and they work in a very hectic environment like workshops where they are beaten harshly”, Asmaa adds. “The children of “Esma3oona” want parents to teach them without violence and to engage in open conversations with them”, says Ali, 16, a very bright young man who is aware of the importance of Esma3ona. He took training courses for the TV episodes like reporting, acting, script writing. He is also aware of the importance of creativity and how it is responsible for the development of the society “children must find the chances to be
