How would you warn thousands of people about an impending flood? Or educate them about the importance of hand washing, or simple ways to prevent the transmission of HIV? It’s amazing what the wireless can do...
For example, in Gao, in Mali an Oxfam Unwrapped funded radio programme broadcasts vital sanitation education, such as the importance of handwashing to stop the spread of disease – to hear the Oxfam hygiene song, click on the audio link above.
In Thailand, the Oxfam Unwrapped funded ‘Voice for AIDS’ community radio station broadcasts programmes on safe sex, voluntary counselling and testing to people out of reach of other media.
Meanwhile, in Ghana, radios have been used to improve school retention rates. Radio programmes include interviews with education authorities and child welfare officers, and radio discussion groups have been formed, bringing together teachers, parents and pupils. In Ghana some families view educating girls as being less important than educating boys, so many of the radio discussions highlight the importance of girls’ education.
Hear how Oxfam Unwrapped funded songs spread important hygiene messages by clicking on the audio link above.