Confidence booster: 25 girls from Lyari make 10 radio shows

After nine months of training, 25 girls from Lyari gather at launch of radio programme, Awaz Hamari Quwwat,

KARACHI:

After nine months of grueling training, 25 girls from Lyari gathered at the launch of a radio programme, Awaz Hamari Quwwat, organised by Uks and Panos South Asia on Monday.

The idea of a series of 10 radio shows, featuring the voices of these women, took shape in May 2010. The girls were given the freedom to choose topics and ideas for features by interviewing people from their neighbourhood. Issues including early marriages, drug addiction, domestic violence, pollution, sexual harassment while using public transportation and sanitation have been covered.

“Interviewing is a completely different experience and half my time is spent worrying about whether the respondent will open up to me or not,” said Tahira Kazmi. Some of the girls were students at an informal school, Ilm-o-Huner and the school’s founder, Khadim Hussain, encouraged them to apply. “We have not received a formal education or attended school so initially many of us lacked confidence,” said Nida Abid-ur Razzaq.

The girls felt more confident and independent after going out to conduct interviews. “I’m thinking of applying for a job now because it helped boost my self-esteem,” said Najma.

Many of the girls fought resistance at home. Uzma Sadiq said she was disappointed when her parents did not allow her to audition initially. “After girls were selected from Lyari, I asked them again and my mother supported me this time around,” she said.

The girls agreed that the training changed their parents’ minds and many of them won their support during this period. We learnt a lot and would love to pursue a career in this field, they said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2011.