Produced by Teens from Three Nations, TV Program Bridges Regional Divides

(December 20, 2006) In the strife-torn region of the Southern Caucasus, an innovative weekly television program gives teenagers a chance to compare life in neighboring countries, even those often called as "the enemy." Jointly produced by teams of teenagers from Armenia, Azerbaijan, and Georgia, Kids Crossroads instills the ideas of tolerance and understanding for participants and viewers alike.

This month 16-year-old Levan Jobava and 14-year-old Irakli Tsanava, journalists of Chveni Exspresi (Our Express), the Georgian version of Kids Crossroads, won a prize for their documentary on social issues in their country. The movie features footage of President Mikheil Saakashvili opening new roadways, fancy stadiums and fountains juxtaposed with images of homeless children, beggars, and the poor raiding trash bins and looking for food.

The 10-minute film was awarded second prize at the First South Caucasian documentary film festival “Nakvalevi,” which was held in Tbilisi December 6-8. The movie was shot entirely with borrowed equipment, and Internews Georgia donated the editing facilities.

The Kids Crossroads project teaches young people in Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia how to address the issues that matter to them through television. The teens cover topics ranging from conflict resolution and prevention to social inclusion and health issues. Through the medium of television, adolescents can share with their peers across the region the common challenges of growing up.

The most recent audience research conducted by Internews Network indicates that the programs reach up to 20 percent of their target audience weekly, and occupy a unique niche in the media landscape. In each of the three countries television programming dedicated to teenagers is scarce at best, and there is a virtual information blockade between Armenia and Azerbaijan.

Launched in 2004, Kids Crossroads is a three-year initiative implemented with financial support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), Internews Georgia and UNICEF.

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