The New Nation - Internet Edition

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

"Ichchey Media Group is a platform where children from different socio-economic background comes together to enjoy and claim their own right and it is run by a group of children with strong support from adults," said one of the children of the media group at an exhibition in the city yesterday.

A photography exhibition titled 'Our life in our views' organised by the Ichchey Media Group (IMG) at the Royal Residential High School at Adabar in the city yesterday.

The three-day exhibition is a part of the regular activities of the group. Photographs of the members of the IMG are on display at the show.

Mahibur Rahman, Headmaster of Royal Residential High School, inaugurated the exhibition, while Seuli Akhtar of Centre for the Service and Information on Disability, Amirul Islam and Samina Shahin of Child Brigade, Rahmat Ullah Rumi of Save the Children Sweden-Denmark, members of the IMG, among others, were present at the inauguration.

One of the participants at the exhibition said, "Photo exhibition is a part of our regular actives. We want to show the real situation of children and try to change children's' life and create awareness among people through this Photo exhibition."

The exhibition remains open from 9:00am to 2:00pm till September 11.

The IMG consists of girls and boys from various sections of society who use media to raise issues on matters that are critical to their lives. They use contemporary media like newspapers, television, radio, the Internet, drama, workshops and seminars to make their opinions heard. One of their initiatives was to produce a film on violence against children in Bangladesh.

The major activities of the children platform IMG are - 'Amader Khobor,' a monthly publication, making video film on violence against children, theatre show, media monitoring, developing a website, facilitating children through organising photo exhibition, film show, meeting and training on children issues and 'Chhayabrikkha,' a saving initiative by the children for the livelihood survival.

The media group also made films on the children rights. The objective of the film was to initiate a dialogue between children and community leaders, parents, teachers and policy-makers and to hold them accountable for stopping violence against children. The film highlighted violence against children in different settings, including the family, school, workplace, community and on the street.