Diary of a Community Radio Campaign: Beyond 16 Days

09 December 2011

“I have five children going to primary school next year and I have been told to pay $35 per term per child. I don’t know how I'll manage to send them next year," said Talei as her concerns shifted from the annual 16days campaign to getting her children back to school in 2012. She did not mention Christmas.

Talei was part of a group of rural women from Naleba and Vatulutu communities in Labasa who were on air with Generation Next Labasa on FemTALK 89.2FM this week.

Across in Nausori, a forty minute plane ride away,
Kinismere Bora lamented similar concerns:
“Before I used to pay $10 for my child’s school fees but from next year I have to pay $30 per term.”

As the 16 Days campaign wraps women who attend the daily interactive dialogue and broadcasts continue to talk about their issues which are linked to their human security and human rights.

They claim their right to define development which puts access to water and electricity, safety, health services, transport, food security at the forefront of their families priorities.

In a safe space that the community radio provides they have discussed the prevalence of domestic violence, child abuse, child labour. They talk about their fears as one group highlights an incident of a recent gang rape.

As mothers they recognise the need to involve children in awareness workshops and programmes to enhance their safety and protection.

The annual 16days campaign maybe coming to an end but it continues to unveil the reality that these are daily realities which need to be prioritized:

“We should have more NGOs with more awareness for women in the rural areas, it should not be yearly but monthly, especially on violence against women to give women the opportunity to discuss,” said Kinismere.

This certainly defines the work that must continue in rural communities - enabling women to define and claim their Peace and Human Security.

....

Sharon Bhagwan Rolls
Executive Director
femLINKPACIFIC
+6799244871 (Mobile)
+6793310303 (Office DL)
www.femlinkpacific.org.fj

Sent via BlackBerry® from Vodafone.

ENDS

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