Radio – Powerful rural opinion shaper
From the left are Henner Weihoener Project Manger DW, Eva Georgia DW trainer, Gospert Kaffer radio presenter, Charity Mujohn-Kaali Industrial Development Officer, members of //Kharas FM and station manager, Menesia Keister. The radio station’s staff was trained recently by the Deutsche Well Akademie on covering the lead-up to the elections later this year.
Following a substantial donation of equipment from the Deutsche Welle Akademie, and extensive training on hosting radio debates with a view to the elections, this Keetmanshoop radio station now broadcasts on an elevated level.
“We are delighted that we have reached this milestone of a dream come true for our studio to be fully equipped and our staff professionally trained to host our own live community debates,” said station manager, Menesia Keister, explaining that her station went through a big struggle to “emerge from the ashes” and to get where they are today.
“I am grateful that DW Akademie had faith in us and stood by us all the way during our difficult times when we had nothing,” said Ms. Keister.
“Our taps were running dry with no water, and we were suffocating under historic debts while our presenters were volunteers working on empty stomachs and driven only by their passion for community radio work. From that position of destitution, we were able to rise with the help of DW Akademie and are now ready to give proper media access to our communities.
We are excited that we are finally able to amplify our people’s voices at grassroots level by providing them with lively and meaningful debating platforms.”
Speaking at the hand-over ceremony, the regional Governor, Mr. Bernardus Swartbooi, said “I am thankful that we can now move forward and give our people a voice in the democratic development of their country’s affairs.”
The training is part of an EU-funded project called “Community Voices: fostering participation, human rights and civic/voter education in local communities.”
