Young Women’s Interactive Learning: “Creative Expressions"

Young Women’s Interactive Learning: “Creative Expressions: Communicating the 16 Days of Activism against Gender Violence” through Community Media

Suva, Fiji Islands
21 November 2012

“With my voice being heard I will encourage my peers to do likewise, I believe the positive changes today will bring better prospects for tomorrow,” says Thais Bott who this week has discovered the opportunity to be a community media producer and broadcaster with FemLINKPACIFIC.

She was one of the 21 young women from Suva, Nausori and Labasa who are finalizing productions ahead of FemLINKPACIFIC’s Annual 16 days of Community Radio Campaign:

“This week I was able to record our drama piece and I was encouraged to tell my story on my vision impairment and the message I would like to listeners to hear,” says Moushmi Narayan who is one of the pioneer members of the Generation Next project in Suva.

Working with workshop trainers Shirley Tagi and Vanessa Griffen the participants are today busy putting the finishing touches to 5 radio dramas and promos addressing Sexual and emotional violence, health security, culture and religion as well as promoting the rights of persons with disabilities. Plans are also in place for a special publication featuring young women’s creative expressions.

The radio programmes and promos will feature in FemLINKPACIFIC’s 16 days of Community Radio Campaign which will see the women-led community radio network “FemTALK 89FM” dedicate an additional 160 hours of radio programming including rural” suitcase radio” broadcasts in Ba, Nausori and Labasa from November 25 to December 10. This is in addition to the regular 37 hours of community radio programming which provides a regular broadcast platform for women, peace and human security priorities to be raised from the community level.

This is the fourth training initiative undertaken by FemLINKPACIFIC through its “Generation Next” project for Young Women Producers and Broadcasters in 2012 with the support of the International Women’s Development Agency and the European Union:

“The interactive learning programme supports young women’s leadership capacity as well as provides space for young women themselves to discuss and develop messages they feel are important in addition to identifying a range of community media possibilities to communicate the theme for the global campaign which once again is “From Peace in the Home to Peace in the World: Let’s Challenge Militarism and End Violence Against Women!” says FemLINKPACIFIC Executive Director, Sharon Bhagwan Rolls.

Currently through FemLINKPACIFIC’s “Generation Next” project 19 young women based in Suva and Labasa regularly produce radio programmes as well as operating 2 suitcase radio stations known as FemTALK 89FM. They are also supported to produce cartoons, digital stories and indie-media productions such as the “Sian and Tamara Show” for distribution through social and independent media channels.

“The interactive learning will challenge the participants to think about the impact they want to make on their audience. It will assist in amplifying young women’s voices through the 16 days campaign,” says Bhagwan Rolls adding that the Interactive Learning will also enable 10 young women to access and learn about the practical operations of the suitcase radio station in Suva and contribute to building a cadre of community radio broadcasters based in Fiji.

Sharon E. R. Bhagwan Rolls(Ms)
Executive Director
FemLINKPACIFIC

www.femlinkpacific.org.fj
@sharonfiji
http://www.facebook.com/pages/femLINKPACIFIC/256180025092
FemLINKPACIFIC is a feminist & community media organization working to empower women and communities by giving them a voice to fully participate in decision making for Equality, Development and Peace.

ENDS

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