extend this coverage to all districts.13 It is hoped that this can be achieved speedily without loss of quality. Despite such efforts, more systematic and formalized approaches are needed to adequately integrate the voices of children and young people into national debates. A key challenge is that structures for participation are not yet fully institutionalized. Participation is often ad hoc and limited to consultations, and/or expressed through the media, and opportunities to provide their input are clearly demarked. There are different interpretations of ‘meaningful’ or ‘effective participation’. ‘Consultation’, for example, is not in itself ‘participation’. Participation and access to information by children and young people is still largely dependent on ‘middlemen’, such as NGOs or the UN, who create opportunities for them, provide them with information, and make sure their voices are heard. Therefore, children and young people still need to gain their own ‘seat at the table’. Eliciting the voice of younger children is an even greater challenge, as they are often heard through caretakers who speak on their behalf. In addition, as much of the media is privately owned and profit based, children’s views are not always priority areas of the media houses. This has been reflected recently with the closure of Kipengele 12, a radio programme run by children on a popular Tanzanian radio station. However, Government and private media run programmes for and with children and young people. For example, page space and air time have been given to children through radio, television and newspapers and there are weekly children’s shows which are often produced and presented by children. In these programmes children express their views directly on issues such as HIV/AIDS. Greater efforts need to be made to ensure better access to information for children and young people, with special focus on materials produced by children and young people themselves. For example, issues of relevance to children in MKUKUTA and MKUZA 13 One of the central approaches of the national adolescent health and development strategy 2004-2008 is to encourage participation by children and young people so as to ensure that the programmes and activities are appropriate and relevant to their needs. 16