Rwanda News Agency/Agence Rwandaise d'Information (Kigali)
13 June 2008
Kigali — What started out as a radio soap opera in Kinyarwanda language tackling taboo issues has turned into an international success now scooping the One World Special Achievement Award for Development Media in the UK, RNA reports.
The 'Urunana' - which means 'Hand in Hand' - is the proud winner of is one of the foremost Awards' events in the UK, officials said. It rewards excellence in media coverage on the vital issues of international development.
In 1998, organisers set out to build the capacity of local producers to make high-quality radio programmes to broadcast to the region on the BBC World Service's Africa Great Lakes Service and on Radio Rwanda. Radio was the medium they thought most able to cross gender, generational, geographical, and literacy barriers.
Urunana went on the air in 1999 as a Kinyarwanda radio soap opera, written and produced in Rwanda airing. The programme weaves sexual and reproductive health issues into stories.
The content has been audience-led, with researchers visiting audience groups in Rwandan villages to chat to listeners about their health concerns. The more often a particular topic comes up, the more airtime it is given, say organisers.
It has played out on issues such as girls' rights to education, orphans' rights to inheritance, youth sexuality, animal husbandry, Genocide related trauma-healing and income generation for women.
The series runs on Tuesdays and Thursdays for about 10minutes on the BBC 30-minute regional program. It has become the talk of town as its ardent listeners discuss not only the characters but the issues raised.
UK's International development agency -DFID - backed the beginning stage of the project up to 2005 injecting some 250.000 pounds (about Rwf 260million). The European Commission is now funding the Urunana Development Communication (DC).
"We are extremely proud to have contributed in a small way to Urunana's success. We really value the role it has played in educating Rwandans on a wide range of health issues. We hope it runs and runs!", said Ms Sandra Pepera, Head of DFID Rwanda in statement on Thursday.
As for the project head, Mr Narcisse Kalisa, their good work from a small organisation has paid off on an international level.
"This is a motivating factor for us to continue to serve the rural population in Rwanda and in the Africa Great Lakes Region", he said.
The drama was the brainchild of Health Unlimited, a UK-based NGO which specialises in health projects targeting communities affected by conflict.
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