July 7, 2009

Women, Health, Peace and Conflict
Maximizing the Power of Local Media in Africa

Building radio stations for communities in Chad and Sudan... training journalists to report on HIV/AIDS accurately and sensitively in Kenya, Nigeria and Ethiopia...helping build more peaceful societies in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Kenya and Sudan... In Sub-Saharan Africa, Internews empowers local media to tell the stories that need to be heard and provide people with the information they need to improve their lives.

“Now I Want to Speak Too”

Women Refugees from Darfur Get a Radio Program Just for Them

Seide sits cross-legged on a straw mat, surrounded by a dozen other refugee women in the training center of the Djabal camp for Darfur refugees in Eastern Chad. She reaches over for the bright blue radio set which is the center of attention, unfolds the handle of what looks like a child’s toy and winds it vigorously to hear another 10 minutes of Women’s Crossroads, a program on  89.9 FM, Radio Sila. (More)

Crossing Borders to Share Airwaves

In Sudan, a Radio Exchange Program Fosters Peace

The eight reporters jammed into the studio of Nhomlaau FM were dancing, laughing, singing − full of spirit. Luka’s fervor on the microphone was infectious to the others. Deng picked up the energy, and the community in this remote corner of Northern bar el Ghazal, Southern Sudan heard radio like they’ve never heard before − eclectic, mixed, dynamic. What was incredible about this jam session was not the music itself, but rather the exchange taking place. (More)

Media Play Key Role in Ethiopia’s Development

Sonya De Masi, Internews’ Country Director for Ethiopia, wrote this commentary about the importance of helping Ethiopia’s media to address the country’s enormous development challenges. Internews works in Ethiopia to improve the frequency and quality of media reporting and programming on HIV/AIDS and other critical health issues. (More)

In Kenya, Conflict-Sensitive Reporting Seen As Vital

A year and a half after the post-election violence that rocked Kenya, many of the underlying issues remain unresolved, and thousands of people remain displaced from their homes. Kenya’s media must prepare for the possibility that a new cycle of violence could erupt, requiring great skill and sensitivity in covering events without inflaming the conflict. These were the conclusions of a May 20 emergency roundtable that Internews’ Nairobi office organized for Kenyan journalists, media advisors and political analysts. (More)

Internews Peace-Building Films Featured at Rwanda Film Festival

The 5th Annual Rwanda Film Festival (June 12-28) screened four documentary films made by Internews as part of a peace-building project that has reached thousands of people in Rwanda and the neighboring Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). (More)

A Male Journalist in Chad Takes Lead in Gender Programs

"I have been working for more than 15 years in journalism," says Nara Hantabou. "When the director of the radio station decided to choose me for this training course, my colleagues laughed at me. I was also reluctant to go. Out of pure ignorance!" Hantabou took part in an training course conducted by Internews on reporting on gender-based violence. (More)

Shunned and Abandoned, HIV+ Woman Tells Her Story

"My mother and younger sister drove me and dropped me far away," said Halima Yassin, an HIV-positive woman in northeastern Kenya, who was abandoned by her wealthy family and left for dead. "I had to crawl to the main road where I was spotted by a good samaritan who brought me here." (More)

HIV-Positive Police Recruits Reinstated After Media Outcry

When 26 young recruits were sacked from the Nigerian Police Academy for testing HIV-positive, local civil society activists turned to Internews for help in reversing the unjust decision. Within weeks of their press conference, 24 out of the 26 were back on the force. (More)

More on Internews' Africa projects

Photos on Flickr from Internews' projects in Africa