Good morning Kurdistan

A new radio station based in Halabja gives women a voice to air their issues and serve the community.

by Ari Anwar

Halabja - A new radio station in the Sharazur area dares to air the problems facing women living in the Kurdistan Region. On air since early 2005, the Halabja-based Dange Nwe (New Voice) pits itself as an independent radio station, which provides information and unbiased news, without party affiliation. Its transmission reaches Slemani and covers 100 square kilometers.

Qaiser Rahman, Director of Dange Nwe, said that the station deals primarily with problems facing women and young people.

“This should contribute in strengthening the awareness about women rights,” Rahman added. “Women of the area are using the radio to express their plight.”

Three NGOs contributed in the establishment of the station, ACDI/VOCA, WADI and Glads Palmera. The first provided the station with much needed equipment, while the others provided financial support.

Rahman complained that the station has just one electric generator, resulting in limited activity, and air time.

The staff is made up of six people, all of whom are in their 20s and 30s. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has opened media training courses for the radio staff.

The programs presented in the selfstyled independent radio include cultural, social, scientific, and language learning, sport and news advisory and entertainment programs as well.

“After Glads Palmera suspended its financial support, the station has faced different problems, such as reduction in the number of staff, and a reduction in salary,” said Qaiser.

The radio’s staff is now dependent on their own capabilities for anything they seek to do in the station.

So far, they have translated several Persian and Indian movies into Kurdish and sold them in the markets.

They usually translate movies that have direct relevance to the situation of the young people of the area, in order to help young people deal with the social problems they face.

“The main objective of establishing the radio is to address various problems facing women and young people within their broadcast reach,” said Rahman.

“It’s a community radio that communicates different elements of the community.”

“I’ve invited community members of the listening audience to come into the station with any program ideas that will help improve the radio service,” said Rahman, adding that the station has thousands of listeners who have expressed their satisfaction with the station’s offerings.

The radio station has a special program dealing with Kurdish women’s issues.

One of the female broadcasters said that before she began working at the station, she was very shy, but now after a year on the air, she is helping fellow broadcasters find the confidence they need to do their job.

Dange Nwe can be heard on 88.6FM from 9am to 12am, and 4pm to 7pm, seven days a week.

	HOME \| Pressespiegel	Druckversion
	19.10.2006 \| SOMA Digest\| Ari Anwar Good morning Kurdistan A new radio station based in Halabja gives women a voice to air their issues and serve the community. by Ari Anwar Halabja - A new radio station in the Sharazur area dares to air the problems facing women living in the Kurdistan Region. On air since early 2005, the Halabja-based Dange Nwe (New Voice) pits itself as an independent radio station, which provides information and unbiased news, without party affiliation. Its transmission reaches Slemani and covers 100 square kilometers. Qaiser Rahman, Director of Dange Nwe, said that the station deals primarily with problems facing women and young people. “This should contribute in strengthening the awareness about women rights,” Rahman added. “Women of the area are using the radio to express their plight.” Three NGOs contributed in the establishment of the station, ACDI/VOCA, WADI and Glads Palmera. The first provided the station with much needed equipment, while the others provided financial support. Rahman complained that the station has just one electric generator, resulting in limited activity, and air time. The staff is made up of six people, all of whom are in their 20s and 30s. The Institute for War and Peace Reporting (IWPR) has opened media training courses for the radio staff. The programs presented in the selfstyled independent radio include cultural, social, scientific, and language learning, sport and news advisory and entertainment programs as well. “After Glads Palmera suspended its financial support, the station has faced different problems, such as reduction in the number of staff, and a reduction in salary,” said Qaiser. The radio’s staff is now dependent on their own capabilities for anything they seek to do in the station. So far, they have translated several Persian and Indian movies into Kurdish and sold them in the markets. They usually translate movies that have direct relevance to the situation of the young people of the area, in order to help young people deal with the social problems they face. “The main objective of establishing the radio is to address various problems facing women and young people within their broadcast reach,” said Rahman. “It’s a community radio that communicates different elements of the community.” “I’ve invited community members of the listening audience to come into the station with any program ideas that will help improve the radio service,” said Rahman, adding that the station has thousands of listeners who have expressed their satisfaction with the station’s offerings. The radio station has a special program dealing with Kurdish women’s issues. One of the female broadcasters said that before she began working at the station, she was very shy, but now after a year on the air, she is helping fellow broadcasters find the confidence they need to do their job. Dange Nwe can be heard on 88.6FM from 9am to 12am, and 4pm to 7pm, seven days a week. © soma Digest, Issue no.14 Oct 6 - Oct 19, 2006 WADI e.V. \| tel.: (+49) 069-57002440 \| fax (+49) 069-57002444 http://www.wadinet.de \| e-mail: