Reporter Profiles: India

Lipika Maharana, Virendra Chaudhari and Renuka are Plan’s Goodwill youth reporters from India.

Lipika lives in Karanjia district, a remote area in northern India and is a member of Plan’s "Saharapad" youth media club, which produces the Muhanmuhi newspaper and television news reports on child rights broadcast nationally.

Virendra lives in Mahuawa — a rural area in northern India and is a member of the "Sangathan - Babu Bahini Manch" (BBM) youth media club. The club produces the childrens magazine Baccho ki Muskan and organises campaigns, rallies, wall writings and street plays that covers issues such as polio vaccination, sanitation, hygiene and the importance of education.

Renuka lives in Sangam Vihar district in southern Delhi, India and is a member of Plan's "Bal Panchayat" youth media Club. Renuka helped produce the Children’s parliament short film as part of the "Children Have Something To Say" video film project which produced 40 short films over two years.

Name: Renuka (Anu)
Age: 21
Country: India
Youth Media Club: Child Rights Information Centre

Pre-departure Q&A

What do you like most about being in a youth media club?
Media is a powerful tool to raise our voice and create awareness on several issues. I enjoy anchoring and handling camera. Earlier I thought that it is difficult to be a part of media group but now I think it is very challenging and I feel very happy when people appreciate and value my work.

What are your thoughts on coming to Australia?
I don’t know much about Australia but I think it is big opportunity to me to be a part of common wealth games. I know that Australia is a champion in cricket. I know the Australia is a beautiful country through books, films and internet.

What are you most looking forward to?
Sports are also a good medium, which can contribute in the development of a country especially in children’s life, but the most children are denied from this because of many reasons. I am going to cover the sports events during Commonwealth Games, interview sport persons and on the basis of it, I will produce a film with my team in which I would want to show why games are important in our life and also promote the right to play. I would like to show this documentary to parents and children at home in India.

Name: Lipika Maharana
Age: 14
Country: India
Youth Media Club: Sharapada media group

Pre-departure Q&A

What do you hope to achieve while in Australia?
I want to be recognized as a good child journalist like adult journalists in Australia. I will be happy in Australia if my friends are oriented with certain values of our country, and if they can recognise my work.

What is life like in your country?
The literacy rate is very low in our country. There is high drop out rate from school of children in rural area. Some children complete full formal education. It is because the children are otherwise engaged in child labour and become the earning member of the family.

Name:Virendra (Viren) Chaudhari
Age: 14
Country: India
Youth Media Club: Sangathan Babu Bahini Manch (BBM) — meaning the group of brothers and sisters.

Pre-departure Q&A

What are your thoughts on meeting Australian students?
I want to know about their culture, festivals, ideas and interest.

What do you hope to achieve while in Australia?
I hope to learn about life of school children, the type of education, the cultural practices and socialize with the people I may be in contact with in my official rounds.

What do you know about Melbourne?
I heard that Melbourne is one of the biggest city of Australia. It is a green city and there are many big buildings, schools, hospitals, churches, water fountains, lakes. Male and females work together. People are very friendly with each other. I will go and see the wonderful world of Melbourne.