Wednesday, October 19 2005 18:15 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Bhubaneswar: Two 12-year-old girls from Orissa's backward Koraput district will represent the country in the international forum for children to be held at Beijing from October 27 to 31.

Anupama Nayak and Sunita Gemel, both 12, will deliberate on child development issues along with their peers from all over the world, UNICEF sources said.

Interestingly, both are among the 100-odd 'young journalists' in Koraput district who have been writing in 'Ankurodgam', a colourful children's newsletter, commenting on various issues affecting their lives.

The newsletter, three issues of which had come out so far, is brought out under the 'Ankur' initiative, being jointly implemented by the district administration and UNICEF. Samples of the reports in the newsletter embraced various subjects and situations including environment, health, education, agriculture and even problems like liquor that tore apart family life.

''People are in the habit of throwing garbage everywhere. Can't they put it in one place ?'' reflected a distressed Anupama Nayak of Sunki village, the daughter of a primary school teacher.

Sunita Gemel is the daughter of a daily wage earner.

The beijing meet, said Lalatendu Acharya, project officer, advocacy and partnership in UNICEF, has a triple objective.

It is to enable prominent young activists to contribute to issues of direct concern to them, enable the 'young journalists' to report on the forum to peer audiences around the world and provide a framework for an international exchange of experience, information and ideas among the participants.