local councils, we feel that their role should include providing us with information as well as providing us with activities. We regret that the way has not so far been paved for children to initiate and organise such activities for themselves. We can only participate in youth activities, as mentioned before, when the schools invite us. We rarely get the opportunity to participate in youth forums. The last such opportunity we got was a joint event held by the UN and the Human Rights Commission to provide us information on democracy; to mark the occasion of democracy Day. It is only rare opportunities such as this that we get to participate in. Media is also expanding in our society now. However, even in the media…yes, there is a youth TV channel but it is not functioning at its full potential. It provides only entertainment – we don’t think that this should be the case. It is very important that channels like this provide information to youth about the opportunities they have – we think this is very important. Media influence is very powerful, and I think that things can only get better if the media begins to think differently, and if they adopt a better form of thinking. We think that all these issues are important, and that we have a right to make ourselves heard. It is by listening to us that things can be improved for us. 86