Twenty-three Kenyan journalists have become the latest beneficiaries of a capacity-building initiative aimed at enhancing ethical reporting on child labour in Africa.
The training, organized by the International Labour Organization (ILO), targeted journalists from four counties—Kisii, Kericho, Nyeri, and Meru—where the ILO is implementing the Accelerating Action for the Elimination of Child Labour in Supply Chains in Africa (ACCEL Africa) project.
Through ACCEL Africa, with financial support from the Government of the Netherlands, the ILO is working to eliminate child labour in Africa’s cocoa, cotton, coffee, tea, and gold supply chains. In Kenya, the project specifically focuses on the coffee and tea sectors.
The four-day training, held from February 10–14 in Kisumu, equipped journalists with in-depth knowledge of national and international legal frameworks related to child labour. It also addressed the ethical considerations and challenges of reporting on child labour and provided guidance on crafting compelling stories that respect the dignity of children and their families.
Participants were introduced to the ILO’s communication strategies, available child labour data and resources, and storytelling techniques, including videography and photography. A strong emphasis was placed on ethical approaches to reporting on children through various storytelling formats, including images and videos.
According to Hellen Rintari, Kenya’s National Project Coordinator for ACCEL Africa, the training was driven by a significant gap in child-focused reporting in Kenya, as well as a broader need for increased knowledge of labour issues affecting children.
The training featured presentations, plenary discussions, experience sharing, and practical sessions that gave journalists a real-world perspective on covering children’s issues.
“I am very pleased to see the journalists’ growth, especially in how they approach children’s stories. We consider this training a success, though we recognize that much more remains to be done,” said Ms. Rintari.
Among the journalists who attended was Benson Wakoli, a reporter with Radio France Internationale. With five years of newsroom experience and three years covering children’s issues, this was his first interaction with the ILO.
For Wakoli, the training was an eye-opener that broadened his understanding of child labour.
“I have learned so much about child labour and realized that it’s an issue I previously considered normal. I even discovered that I was once a victim of child labour myself. Now, I have a clear understanding of what child labour truly means,” said Wakoli.
“Previously, I focused on children’s stories mainly in conflict situations. This training has helped me see that there is so much more to write about when it comes to children’s rights and child labour,” he added.
Another participant, Arnold Ageta, a multimedia reporter with Tidal Wave News, was in the midst of covering a story about children engaged in clay mining in Nyamira County when he attended the training.
“At first, I was looking at the story as a regular human-interest piece about the struggles parents face to make ends meet. But after this training, I now see it from a child labour perspective,” he said.
For Ageta, this will be his first in-depth story on child labour, and he plans to apply the insights and skills he gained.
“I now understand that certain critical voices must be included in such stories. I also have access to valuable resources, such as the legal frameworks and data shared by the ILO team. Through the ILO, I can also connect with relevant experts who can provide key insights for my reporting,” mentioned Ageta.
His sentiments were echoed by Vivian Bii, Digital Marketing Manager at Trance Studios, who described the training as both informative and timely.
“I had never reported on child labour before, but I appreciated how practical the training was. It gave me the necessary skills to do so, and I’m now ready to write my first child labour story,” highlighted Bii.
The ILO team pledged to strengthen this new partnership with journalists, ensuring that they remain actively engaged in ACCEL Africa activities to enhance public awareness on child labour issues.
This article was adapted from ILO website and adapted by Tidal Wave News.
