New women's radio program by BBC World Service Trust

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

“Aangan ke paar” (or “Beyond the courtyard”) is a new

weekly radio program produced by the BBC World Service

Trust, focusing on the issues related to women’s

empowerment and health. HIV/AIDS messaging is an

integral part of the program.

Aangan ke paar had its first broadcast on the 6th of

October 2006, on 22 stations of AIR in the states of

Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. It will be

broadcast every Friday afternoon for the next six

months. A shorter version of the program is also being

broadcast on Friday evening on the BBC Hindi Service.

Central to the program is the contribution of 12 women

development workers, from the three states, trained in

the basics of journalism and radio reporting by the

BBC World Service Trust. These women gather stories

and voices from their communities, which then are

broadcast to a wider audience through the radio

program. The content of the show is also guided by

rigorous audience research, which ensures that the

program is responsive to the needs and concerns of the

women in these three states.

“Aangan ke paar” is thus an attempt to bring unheard

women’s voices to the fore, through creative and

production excellence.

Regards,

Lubna Khan

Project Manager, Community Media - Radio

BBC World Service Trust

e-mail: lubna.khan@...