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Communication, good, bad, dubious or transparent, condescending or promising ––contributing to exclusion or encouraging inclusion, influences outcomes, motivates behavior.
UNICEF invests in innovations to communicate with communities, children, partners and donors–– using diverse methods and styles. I believe there was/still is scope for improvement.
Children who at age 14-15 decide they are not "children" anymore are challenging. I remember my son at that age (delicate-ego, trying to establish male-identity). He was 13, almost a six-footer when I joined UNICEF-ESARO, Nairobi. As a single mom (no family support in Kenya), I struggled. I grew up with a bunch of sisters, actually . . . I sought advice from male colleagues . . . tried to learn how to bring up this "stranger"- male-adolescent (Google help wasn't available!). I had him young––we were mistaken as siblings, often.
Initially for 3 months, we were provided with UNICEF-transportation (pick-up-drop) support. One of our major differences while I dropped him off at school was reminding him to wear his glasses (which he kept tucked in his shirt pocket, ughhh!). I learned a valuable lesson from the driver who was on my duty.
"Nuzhat, I brought up teenage brothers . . . For boys, glasses mean weakness. Macho men don't wear glasses . . ."
I understood. My son was trying to impress his new peers . . . I tested other ways to build bridges...
In UNICEF, there is confusion regarding "communication," its scope––what to say, who to involve, how to engage . . .
. . . In Colombo after I trained the field offices on communication concepts and communication strategy development, one colleague expressed aloud: "Before this workshop I thought communication meant pamphlet development only . . ."
. . . In Kiribati, we engaged 14–18-year-olds. I wanted them to have an understanding of M&E, how to interpret programmatic data in simplicity to become effective community communicators. Bjorn Gelders, M&E Officer in UNICEF Fiji, was excited to assist. Our request was denied – children-communicators had low priority.
Our Child Protection Officer in Vavuniya, UNICEF Sri Lanka requested me to convert a set of CRC articles into a child's level of understanding. NYHQ booklet on CRC for children didn't hit the right chords. I used stories to explain each article.
During conflict, in the aftermath of disasters, communal rioting (Gujerat), how to communicate bad news to children? It's a heart-breaking task–– how to tell children in shelters (post Tsunami, Sri Lanka), earthquake (Pakistan) . . . that their missing family members weren't coming back––how to talk to kids orphaned by AIDS in Africa (many were/are HIV positive themselves) . . .
We developed children's communication survival kits so that they can talk about their pain, take charge of their lives (see links below).
Alice Tapper, daughter of CNN journalist Jake Tapper was misdiagnosed, almost lost her life as doctors didn't listen to her complaints. She authored a book to advocate for children's voices.
I trained thousands around the globe on participatory processes on how to communicate, enhance effective participation, diffuse tension. Listening and dialoguing are crucial to overcome differences––to enhance understanding of views that are defined by personal experiences––gender, race, tradition, faith, ideologies . . . (however, some people don't change).
Words matter . . .
Once, I was trying to explain to a very senior UNICEF official about how we used advocacy and behavior development/change communication to engage communities.
"These stupid words are useless to people . . ." I was rudely interrupted . . .
"We actually use words that communities understand. We keep the 'stupid words' for UNICEF." I shot back . . .
I wasn't fired......
US politics is no different. The presidential candidates (2024) are promising tax cuts to allure voters. Trump's plan would add $5.8 trillion to the debt over 10 years, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model. This would expand a national debt and a budget deficit as expressed by economists.
Kamala Harris's plan would add $1.2 trillion to the debt over 10 years, the Penn Wharton Budget Model found.
Do the general electorate understand deficits? How do these work . . . the long term implications? What about using simple ways of communicating instead–– how budget-deficits would impact them at grocery stores, regarding kids' education, health care . . .
Communication is complex . . .
Finally, grief communication . . . "Sorry for your loss" –– is this even enough? On Google there are huge resources on "do's" and "don't" of grief . . .
. . . my young (cousin) sister was battling cancer in the UK. Being a doctor, she knew it had spread. We were in touch constantly. Some days she texted in the middle of the night when the stress of being sick and the thought of leaving behind her minor son was too heartbreaking.
One day, she called me from the hospice.
"When will you come back?" My shock was overwhelming––I spoke so wrong.
"I'm good here," I heard her laugh––tainted with immense sadness.
"Love you, always, always," I said before the line got disconnected.
She passed away the same week.
Links: (Video, comic book, teachers' guide)
Once, I was trying to explain to a very senior UNICEF official about how we used advocacy and behavior development/change communication to engage communities.
"These stupid words are useless to people . . ." I was rudely interrupted . . .
"We actually use words that communities understand. We keep the 'stupid words' for UNICEF." I shot back . . .
I wasn't fired......
US politics is no different. The presidential candidates (2024) are promising tax cuts to allure voters. Trump's plan would add $5.8 trillion to the debt over 10 years, according to the Penn Wharton Budget Model. This would expand a national debt and a budget deficit as expressed by economists.
Kamala Harris's plan would add $1.2 trillion to the debt over 10 years, the Penn Wharton Budget Model found.
Do the general electorate understand deficits? How do these work . . . the long term implications? What about using simple ways of communicating instead–– how budget-deficits would impact them at grocery stores, regarding kids' education, health care . . .
Communication is complex . . .
Finally, grief communication . . . "Sorry for your loss" –– is this even enough? On Google there are huge resources on "do's" and "don't" of grief . . .
. . . my young (cousin) sister was battling cancer in the UK. Being a doctor, she knew it had spread. We were in touch constantly. Some days she texted in the middle of the night when the stress of being sick and the thought of leaving behind her minor son was too heartbreaking.
One day, she called me from the hospice.
"When will you come back?" My shock was overwhelming––I spoke so wrong.
"I'm good here," I heard her laugh––tainted with immense sadness.
"Love you, always, always," I said before the line got disconnected.
She passed away the same week.
Links: (Video, comic book, teachers' guide)
Very thought provoking. So many issues that we wished could have simple solutions. Maybe teaching a teenager is too late, - he/she might have to learn on their own. I think Jean Piaget taught that children need to learn before they reach school age, that is by five years. Unfortunately, UNICEF paid too little attention to preschool education.
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