Hamari Awaz (Our Voice) Radio

Broadcast in Urdu, Hamari Awaz's 24 programmes were aired twice a week from 12:00 to 12:25 a.m. Organisers formed listening groups to increase the reach of the broadcast and to engage women in dialogue about the issues raised. Sixteen listener groups were established in 8 union councils with the help of social activists. Each group included 15-20 community women, female councilors, and a group coordinator. The latter facilitated the group members in issue raising, discussion, and filling out a questionnaire after each broadcast. This questionnaire offered feedback detailed suggestions for future broadcasts, and was sent back to the Sarsabz Foundation every week. Supporting material was produced in the form of posters, booklets, and flyers in simple local language. The objective of this package was to strengthen information transfer, supplementing and sometimes providing information not already covered in the radio programme.

The programme itself began with a 10-minute modelling of an Aj Ki Union Council session, followed by a brief report. Next, the Community Corner involved field staff recording the public's opinions about the practices of their own union councils and their perceptions of their Public Representatives. Then, a 5-minute interview session presented one outstanding woman as a role model. This was followed by an information report on women's rights, international laws, and national action plans related to rights issues. Finally, listeners were encouraged to call in to ask questions, directly participate in the programme, and share their views.

Women, Gender, Political Development, Rights.

Organisers say that radio is the most powerful, and yet the cheapest, mass medium for reaching large numbers of people in isolated areas. It can promote dialogue and debate on the major issues of community developments as well as providing a platform for the expression of women's needs, opinions, and aspirations. In Pakistan, they say, the majority of rural women are illiterate and have limited access to information. Because they also live in an unequal society, their contributions within the economic, social, and political spheres remain negligible, marginal, or even invisible. Sarsabz is motivated by the belief that communication processes can empower women by providing information and knowledge as a basis for change and innovation; they can make decisions concerning their own livelihood and thereby increase their overall involvement in development.

Organisers claim that women candidates appreciated Hamari Awaz during their election campaigns; some used audiocassettes of the programmes for those who could not listen. Some female candidates also said they got a lot of information through these radio programmes.

Radio Faisalabad was launched in 1982. It covers a 35 km radius and broadcasts in the Urdu and Punjabi languages. Other projects related to women include voter education programmes (as part of "Mobilizing women for the Local Bodies Elections") and a radio drama called "Wailey di Kook". A new radio series on local government issues is being launched as part of the ongoing programme "Civic Education and Women Representatives Training Program."