Women’s empowerment through community radio : A case study of Bakitha Radio, South Sudan

Abstract

This Research is about women’s empowerment through community radio in South Sudan. Provision of information as well as giving women a platform to discuss issues affecting them are essential factors in empowerment, a reason Bakhita Radio special women programming. Its contribution to supporting the women development agenda is enormous. The study seeks to explain the contribution of community radio programming in the empowerment of women - how female (listeners) audiences use radio programs to empower themselves; and what other factors are responsible for women empowerment other than community radio. The case study research design was employed and data for the study collected from the Bakhita Radio staff, Civil Society Organizations, Ministry of Gender, Child and Social Welfare through interviews which constituted qualitative data, while quantitative data was gathered from the general public through questionnaires. The analysis focuses on various levels of respondents as listeners and non-listeners of the program. The study finds however that, through women participation in the radio as program hosts, guests, or calling in, they are able to talk and share development ideas. Women are also empowered through participation in workshops that help them increase their self-confidence and self-knowledge. This study argues that community radio has the potential to empower women by providing them with access to information necessary to change their lives and enable them to participate in the development processes. The study concludes that Bakhita Radio responds to communication needs by creating opportunities for women voices to be heard and addressing women issues through their radio programs. The study recommends that Bakhita Radio should form partnerships with local NGOs working on women issues so that its programs address the needs of the women. This study supports that women need to own their communication processes, through starting their community radio station as a way of developing their capacity.