Generation Next – Strengthening women’s weekend community radio broadcasts

The Generation Next team. Photo: Courtesy of fem'LINKPACIFIC.

Fiji

Partner: fem’LINKPACIFIC

Funding source: IWDA supporters and AusAID – Australian NGO Cooperation Program (ANCP)

Issue: Safe spaces for young women, who continue to be marginalised from decision-making forums, even in their own communities, simply because of their age are limited. It is challenging for rural women to make time to participate in workshops and dialogue on development planning when they are working long hours to provide for their families.

Outline: fem’LINKPACIFIC’s innovative community radio initiative ‘fem’TALK 89.2FM’ has been operating since 2003, empowering and building the skills of young women broadcasters and opening space for women’s voices to be heard. These broadcasts are key sources of information for women about women’s rights and women’s roles in decision-making. fem’TALK 89.2FM provides young women with skills and confidence to engage in national-level debates as interviewers, producers and broadcasters.

Impact: This year, fem’LINKPACIFIC trained 23 young women volunteers, including nine from rural centres, as radio broadcasters, interviewers and producers. A total of 156 broadcasts including several from the rural centres were aired, featuring interactive discussions, information segments and women’s opinions on current peace and human security issues. Generation Next has been adopted as a model by regional partners such as the Leitana Nehan Women’s Development Agency in Bougainville and Ma’afafine moe Famili in Tonga.

“This workshop re-affirmed to me that anything is possible, especially for me, as I did not have access to information and communication tools but here I am, learning to make a digital story with the latest in technology and the best part being I get to tell my own human security story and share it with other young women of my age” Makareta, Generation Next volunteer, Nadi.

Tags: femLink, Fiji, Leadership and Participation, Social Inclusion
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