“The media educates the community about their rights. To have their own radio station is very important for a community it is a way for them to tell their own stories, that they feel are important, in their own voice, and I am so proud to be supporting that.”

Women in South Sudan listen to an Internews-supported radio station. During the conflict in South Sudan, Hellen Mangindo was on air continuously providing listeners with a familiar, calm presence and clear information on what was happening. Hellen presents her own social affairs show — Under the Tree — focusing on women, children, health, reconciliation and healing. (photo: Emily LeRoux-Rutledge/

“I want to make a program where I can represent any girl in Libya. I can do this program instead of her, and she can listen. As a result, society will hopefully pay attention to girls and their needs.”

Reporting from the Kenyan community of Dadaab — host to the world’s largest refugee camp — Fatuma Abdi Gedi’s reports have made more women aware of why their children should go to school and helped them access health

“The Sinhalese people in Akmeemana village opened their hearts out to me even when they knew I was a Tamil and couldn’t speak Sinhala.

I was touched when they wanted to tell me their problems. They wanted their sufferings to be heard by Tamil listeners of the radio stations. They, too, were trying to reach out to their Tamil brothers and sisters to say that all poor people have the same problems, regardless of whether you are Sinhalese, Tamil or Muslim.”

A journalist interviews children in a radio studio in DRC. Like many other children, Alice Mutombo spent weeks marching through dense jungle, where she listened to news of the war on a batteryoperated radio and developed an interest in journalism. (photo: Internews)

“I used to arrive at the radio station every day at 8 a.m. and not leave until the evening. It didn’t matter that the sun was beating down against my head as I sat on the bench outside the reception door. This went on day after day until the management decided to hire me.”

Until she participated in a journalism training workshop with Internews,Kalaivani Saravani had a burning hatred of the Sinahalese in Sri Lanka. They had been responsible for the death of her father, a Tamil. Kalaivani went through a personal transformation after she was assigned to report on a story where she had to interview Sinhalese villagers. (photo: Matt Abud/Internews)

“As a woman, I feel as if it were me who had lived through those moments. It’s difficult. African women suffer a lot. If there is a possibility to help them, to give them everything they need to help them avoid those risks…”

Journalist Houda Malloum (right) interviews a woman in a refugee camp in Chad for a weekly radio show she produced — “She Speaks, She Listens.” — that focused on violence against women and girls. (photo: Guillaume Michel/Internews)

“Most ladies get married early, you have a family, you need the job and you have to complete your assignments on time regardless of how you make ends meet at home and at work. When you are determined, nothing will deter you from your dreams. If you really want to be a journalist, you can make it.”

After the fall of the Gaddafi regime in Libya, a group of young people with no radio experience cobbled together Radio Shabab FM, hoping to participate in Libya’s budding civil society. (photo: Benedict Moran/Internews)

“I was really touched when I started writing about the situation in Gaza, and one of the readers posted a comment saying ‘Thank you Amani, you really touched the reality of Gaza, and talked about things that concern us.’”

In Gaza, children were happy to be back in school with their teacher after the conflict wound down in September 2014. Amani Shnino was selected for Internews’ multi-media training that included video reporting and story production. Since then, she has been producing video and radio reports, as well as writing a blog and a column about IDP camps for a Lebanese journal. (photo: Julia Pitner/Internews)

Mary Wagura received training in conflict-sensitized journalism as part of the Internews Reporting for Peace project. The training equipped her with essential skills to cover the aftermath of Kenya’s post-election violence of 2008. Impressed with her growing expertise in handling conflict-related stories, Mary’s managers decided to make her the dedicated “peace beat” reporter. (photo: Internews)

“Our community, they don’t usually have women journalists or hear ladies on the radio. So through the Gargaar program I have gotten the opportunity to be a role model for others.”

Journalist Houda Malloum (right) interviews a woman in a refugee camp in Chad for a weekly radio show she produced — “She Speaks, She Listens.” — that focused on violence against women and girls. (photo: Guillaume Michel/Internews)

“I want to become a better journalist. When I see people in the media, I want to be like that. They’re doing a good job helping people by sharing stories.”

Julia Paulo Ding, 22, lives and works in the United Nations Protection of Civilians (UN POC) site. She is working with Internews, learning how to produce humanitarian information audio programs. The programs, calledBoom Box Talk Talk, serve as a two-way communication platform for those living in the POC. (photo: Adam Bemma/Internews)