Page 20 - IB FEB 2017

Women

As the world celebrates World Radio Day, FemTALK says ...
“IN May 2004, as the (then) co-ordinator Radio talking, but they are participating to make

by Sian Rolls, with the
change in their communities.”
femLINKpacific team
“While talking to these women, it’s
heard and they are proud to have a voice.
of femLINKpacific, I witnessed a new re- obvious they are looking forward to being
ality – our first suitcase radio broadcast,” is us! “Not only have we seen the value and
reflected Sharon Bhagwan Rolls, fem- power of community radio as women
LINKpacific’s Executive Producer-Director through our networks grow, but ourselves.
ahead of a month-long commemoration “At 15, I saw my mother and Sharon
of World Radio Day on FemTALK89FM. Rolls broadcasting at the Labasa market
“That broadcast hosted by student volun- Look At My Abilities, hosted by women with rural women singing into a strange-
teers brought the diversity of Suva-based from disability networks, continues as a looking machine,” said Lucille Chute,
civil society together – human rights and weekly show since 2013. We also have femLINKpacific’s Programme Assistant
disability activists, ecumenical groups and Rainbow Connections, the launch of based at the Northern Division’s Labasa
the Fiji Media Watch – they all became part which coincided with the International Day Community Media Centre and Adi Vasu-
of a monthly broadcast.” Against Homophobia and Transphobia levu’s daughter. “I couldn’t wait to find out
“In that journey since then, I have (IDAHOT) 2013 with our LGBT allies. what it was, so when I asked my mother
often been asked about our audience. Since the very beginning, not only has I was so excited to find out that it was a
Our community radio approach with there been a focus placed on the women suitcase radio station where you could
FemTALK89FM has been that our target leaders who had already affirmed their speak, share your stories and even sing
audience, the women, in rural communi- leadership, but there has been continued – which would all be broadcasted out to
ties are defining the content.” involvement and investment in the future whoever would tune in.”
This has resulted in investing in a rural – in young women as leaders, as producers “We would be visited by the suitcase
community media network, resourcing and as broadcasters. radio before we got our very own in 2011,
convenors, correspondents and production Fane Boseiwaqa, now a convenor in becoming the first and only radio sta-
meetings. Radio is reaching the women the Western Division, started out as a tion on Vanua Levu, it was so beautiful
because it’s their programmes. young woman, out of school and looking because it brought together all the rural
“Since femLINKpacific’s early days, I for something to do. A wife, mother and women – even though they were afraid,
was putting in practice my personal beliefs leader in her own right today, she recalled shy and silent, they kept coming to talk
that amplifying women’s peace and secu- the investment in her over a decade ago. and share.”
rity via a media platform would not only “As a founding member of the Genera- “I am learning all the time as part of this
bring them to a wider audience beyond tion Next project (2007-2011), I was given regional community media network that
the CSO sector, but it would also enable the confidence and felt empowered as a reaches across the Pacific – like about how
more women to feel confident enough to young woman to have a voice and speak a woman leader lived reality in rural Fiji,
discuss their issues in a safe space that out on the issues that women and young about how women of faith are leading the
wasn’t commercially driven but for and by peopled faced in the community,” she work for peace in Bougainville and what
women,” said Tabua Salato, femLINKpa- said. “The suitcase radio station, travelling young women in all their diversities think,
cific’s general manager. around Fiji, was a platform for the women feel and believe,” continued Alisia Evans,
Salato is not alone in her beliefs – in fact, to come together and have a safe space.” femLINKpacific’s Programme Associate:
it is that aim to bring a space to women Sulueti Waqa also began her community Research. “FemTALK89FM has taught me
that drives us all. radio journey as a volunteer. Encouraged so much as a young woman,” added Han-
“In the early days, when we just had a by her mother in the Western Division, nah Hicks, femLINKpacific’s Programme
tape recorder, I embraced community radio Waqa started as a volunteer in the capital Associate: Broadcast. “It continues to
as a tool to engage women, record their city and is now a key member of the team strengthen my ability to make a difference
voices and document their narratives,” in the Northern Division’s Labasa Com- as well as mould my leadership when it
continued Adi Vasulevu, femLINKpacific’s munity Media Centre. comes to the running of the radio station.”
convenor for the Northern Division. “This “It is not only a tool to educate the “While FemTALK89FM is our flagship
was key as Fiji was emerging out of con- women, but also the policy makers so that media platform, the women’s voices don’t
flict at the time.” they are aware of the issues in the commu- stay there – they go into our ‘Community
“We needed to break the silence, so nity,” she shared. “It has also empowered Radio Times’ that is shared back to the
that’s what we did. We created an enabling me to further develop my understanding women, ‘The Thirteen 25 Report’ that is
space where women’s thoughts, voices of other technology – not just using a tape our bi-monthly online magazine and even
and ideas mattered.” recorder, which is sometimes the most ac- to our policy documents.”
“FemTALK89FM is the only platform cessible and appropriate technology – but As we embark on the 13th year of
where space is given to the women as finding new ways and new equipment to FemTALK89FM, we celebrate all that we
well as other minority groups in the com- document, compile and share the voices of have been able to achieve and our vibrant
munity,” added Losana Derenalagi, one of women in all their diversities.” network of women in all their diversities.
femLINKpacific’s convenors in the Western “Being a correspondent for FemTALK- Commemorating World Radio Day 2017,
Division. “From the mat, it amplifies and 89FM is eye-opening for me,” continued on the 13th of February, is not just a one
increases their visibility as leaders in their Sokoveti Lutumailagi, correspondent day event – everyday, our radio broadcasts
community.” based in the West. The women are not only say ‘Radio is You’!

20 Islands Business, February 2017