Community Radio Work and Experience of SIDAREC in

Community Radio: -Work and Experience of SIDAREC in the use of Ghetto FM 99. 9 and ICT in Empowering urban slum dwellers in Nairobi, Kenya Presented by Lucy Mathai during the workshop on “Media, Empowering and Democracy in E. A” Held on 3 rd-5 th December in Dar-es-salaam

2

Introduction Nairobi is inhabited by a diverse population comprising peoples from different ethnic communities and therefore any community radio station will strive to be as inclusive as possible both in content and language. There is however an emerging need to distinguish community radio from commercial vernacular radio stations. 3

Ghetto FM content Provides community produced content that is immediately relevant to daily issues that affect that community. The aim of Ghetto FM is to serve as a tool to empower the community with informative messages from SIDAREC’s social activities that fall under four pillars: Community Media & Information Communication Technology, Reproductive Health and Sexuality, Early Childhood Development, Entrepreneurship and Livelihood. 4

5

Background Ghetto FM is an Amplified voice for the voiceless. It is geared towards creating storytellers about their village the best way they know it. Community radios provide an indigenous ground for the locals to document their own histories, as well as map-out strategies for the future. 6

Objectives To foster a community radio station and a network of communication centres in the slums of Nairobi that promote participation in development, educational activities and psycho-social integration of slum communities. To establish a permanent training structure specific to social communication journalism for “barefoot” reporters and producers 7

Contd To consolidate a community radio station run by slum people, that satisfies their information needs. To produce development and educational programs for social change. To disseminate information that will enable people to identify and utilize local resources for individual and community development. To encourage and build youth leadership for community service. 8

Ghetto FM coverage area Ghetto FM 99. 9 covers a radius of 4 (four kilometers) from its central transmission point. The Station reaches an estimated population of 700, 000 people across Eastern part of Nairobi 9

Empowerment programs Awareness programmes on importance of education Inform community on available educational opportunities e. g bursaries ICT training on how to use internet resourcefully i. e scholarship Education 10

Economic issues Address business minded youths on existing yet underutilized skills and ideas which they can use to start own businesses. demystify formal employment as the only access to a decent means of livelihood by motivating listeners to become self-reliant business-people. 11

In the past general elections, Ghetto FM played a significant role in educating the community on voting consciously for a reformer and a people’s leader Engaged the public with peace messages to avoid conflicts with fellow neighbors due to political differences Political participation 12

Conclusion Being the voice of the voiceless, Ghetto FM endeavors to amplify the concerns, fears and aspirations of the slum dwellers giving them a voice and hope Bridging the information gap between the slum dwellers and the elites helps in empowerment and thus reduce marginalization for information is power. THANK YOU 13