Source: SABAHI
Aman Radio will be the first ever all-female station to hit the airwaves in Mogadishu, with a mission to raise the profile of Somali women and train them in the media.

The station, which will start broadcasting soon from its offices in Mogadishu's Hawlwadag district, is being launched by the Nasib Information and Media Training Centre for Women with financial backing from Somali women in the diaspora.

The centre offers young women interested in media a number of journalism courses, which Aman Radio will complement by providing graduates an opportunity to practice their new skills at the station.

Sabahi interviewed Aman Radio Assistant Director Farhia Farah Roble to find out more about plans for the new station.

 

Sabahi: Why establish a radio station that only employs women?

Farhia Farah Roble: It is intended to empower women, especially in the media. As you know, Mogadishu has many radio stations, but none is managed by a woman.

Sabahi: Why choose a radio station to empower women and not a school or something else?

Roble: We chose to start with radio because reading is not prevalent in Somalia [now], and we wanted [to choose a medium] that helped us reach and spread our message of empowerment to all Somali women. That is why we wanted to create a media outlet owned and operated by women.

Sabahi: Have you encountered any obstacles?

Roble: Anytime you start something new challenges are to be expected, but so far we have not encountered any impediments. Of course, there are people who say that a radio station run by women will not add any value [to society], but comments like that are insignificant.

Sabahi: When did the idea for Aman Radio come about?

Roble: The idea came about six years ago, when the Nasib Information and Media Training Centre for Women began publishing a newspaper that addressed women's issues. The centre also provided young female students training in journalism that included technical skills courses in video editing and photography. Every six months we produced 60 graduates. Now it is possible for us to start the radio station with those graduates.

Sabahi: What are you hoping to accomplish?

Roble: We want Somali women to become independent and be able to carry out the same jobs available to men, whether in the field of technical production, reporting or editing.

Sabahi: How will your radio programmes help advance that goal?

Roble: We are going to produce programmes that focus on the education of young girls and [celebrate] the positive contributions Somali women have made to society during the civil war. We will invite Somali scholars to help us highlight the positive role women have played so far and discuss the challenges facing them now.

Sabahi: Tell us about your staff

Roble: Currently we have 25 employees. They include radio technicians, reporters and photographers, all of whom finished our training programmes.

Sabahi: You seem to have a very young team. Will they be paid?

Roble: The women who work at Aman Radio are between 17 and 20 years old. Some of them receive a salary while others are still completing their courses.

Sabahi: Will the centre continue the training programme?

Roble: Nasib Centre will continue its work in training and providing opportunities for women. The station was created as part of that goal, so training will continue.

• Somalia