Voice of Kono is dedicated to amplifying women’s voices and promoting gender equality in the Kono district, Sierra Leone. Their program, Woman Talk (Tok), was selected as the 2024 winner of the recently the 2024 Liz Hughes Award for Her Farm Radio, which recognizes radio programs that address women’s rights and gender equality in their communities.
The goal of Woman Talk (Tok) is to address the everyday challenges faced by women and children, such as unequal access to resources, cultural traditions that perpetuate inequality, and unfair treatment. The program is unique for including both men and women, encouraging collaboration to ensure fair treatment for all. It offers a platform for students, farmers, businesspeople, and families to discuss key issues related to women’s rights, culture, and family life.
The program brings together diverse voices, including experts from the Family Support Unit (FSU), a government organization, along with representatives from women’s rights organizations Female hosts and guests play a key role, ensuring women’s perspectives are heard. Men also participate, as the program producers recognize that their involvement is crucial in promoting gender equality.
One local issue the program has discussed is inheritance rights. A powerful story comes from a widow who reclaimed her property after learning about her rights through Woman Talk (Tok).. Her husband’s family had taken everything after his death, leaving her and her children with nothing. The program empowered her to fight for her rights, significantly improving her family’s life. This is one example of how Woman Talk (Tok) educates and supports women in their community.
The program has had a widespread impact across Kono district. By promoting women’s participation in decision-making and advocating for equal access to resources like land, it is helping shift traditional norms that have historically marginalized women. The program’s efforts are encouraging the community to rethink long-held beliefs about gender roles.
Woman Talk (Tok) serves a diverse audience of men and women aged 18 and older, including students, farmers, and business professionals. By aiming to reach a broad group, the program hopes that discussions on gender equality resonate throughout the community. Beyond raising awareness, it also provides listeners with practical tools to act on the issues discussed.
One challenge in producing the show has been securing women experts as guests, due to their limited availability. To address this, the team created a list of potential guests to ensure that they always have experts lined up, even when last-minute cancellations occur.
Despite these challenges, Woman Talk (Tok) continues to bring together voices from all walks of life to engage in meaningful conversations. The program features interviews by female reporters and regularly captures public opinions from the streets. Guests include male and female experts from the Family Support Unit, social welfare organizations, and women’s rights groups, ensuring balanced discussions on gender issues.
Looking ahead, Woman Talk (Tok) aims to expand its reach by taking its message to schools and local gatherings. The producers also plan to incorporate dramas and more interactive content to engage listeners further. Through continued education and advocacy, Woman Talk (Tok) is determined to reduce gender inequality and build a more just society in Sierra Leone.
Farm Radio International (FRI) is a Canadian non-profit organization specializing in ICT-enabled extension and communication for reaching rural and remote communities at scale in local languages in sub-Saharan Africa. FRI’s core expertise is collaborative, user-focused co-creation of quality information and advisory services, combining radio and mobile phones, other ICTs and face-to-face interaction