With technical and financial support from UNICEF Tanzania and the Children’s Radio Foundation (CRF), ZAPHA+ established the YRN in 2011 with the goal of creating media space for children to voice their views and raise awareness on child rights as well as promoting child participation throughout the process. 

The YRN group was made up of children with various backgrounds, including young people infected and/or affected by HIV/AIDS. To date more than sixty (60) young reporters from Pemba and Unguja have been trained on how to use and handle radio, video, and photography equipment and produce quality radio programmes by children, for children and about children.

The radio programmes have been airing fortnightly on Zenj FM, ZBC Pemba, Coconut Fm, Swahiba fm, Bomba fm and Spice fm. Currently, 27 young reporters are still active airing once a week at Spice fm radio. The other more than 33 reporters have graduated from the programme and linked into other program. The graduated young reporters remain as valuable members of the group as mentors to the other young reporters and as co-facilitators during training sessions while other are employed in media house. Young reporter program offers a unique opportunity for ZAPHA+ Adolescents and youth to share their concerns, experiences, hopes and aspirations, and to effectively participate in bringing about behavior and social change through material featured on traditional and social media

More than 40 radio programs covering a wide range of topics on child rights such as child right protection, violence against children, environmental education and conservation, hygiene, life skills, SRHR education, HIV education, income generation and health affecting children were produced, aired and uploaded into Sound Cloud, Furthermore, some video clips related topics posted in ZAPHA+ social media page, istagram, facebook and U tube. Besides, the contribution of young reporters hasn’t only been limited to production and sharing of radio shows not only noticed in their respective communities but also in the national and international levels. More than 15 young reporters has been participated in numbers of meeting and event in international levels such as Suhaila Msham who has been a young reporter since 2011 has been represented in United Nation Assembly haeld in Newyork city in USA.

Fatma Mazige represented in world social forum held in Accra Ghana, Abdulrahman Muhamed represented in global maternal and child heath forum in held Saditon city, South Africa. Ali Mwaita Ali participated in digital story telling training in Johannesburg, South Africa.