蜜芽传媒

In Tanzania, we鈥檙e celebrating 10 years of our radio show Niambie (meaning 鈥榯ell me鈥� in Swahili), which counts challenging gender inequality among its many aims.

Over the past decade the weekly radio show, both made by and for young people, has grown to reach more than five million listeners.

Niambie also produces engaging social media content on a range of digital platforms to connect young people and nurture its community of listeners.

Inspiring stories, including that of Aisha - the first woman DJ in Zanzibar, are among those that have been shared to encourage women and girls to change their lives.

Friends Elizabeth and Rehema also shared their story of how a change in the law allowed teenage mothers, including themselves, to return to school after they were excluded for becoming pregnant.

Similarly the story of Amina, who fulfilled her dream of becoming a mechanic, and Judy, who upskilled from being a porter to a tour guide for clients looking to scale Mount Kilimanjaro, have been used to inspire others.

Digital producer Mariam Kungwe said she had seen contributors get into conversations about topics including menstrual hygiene, adding: 鈥淪ometimes we even see people change their attitude to the topic based on a response from another user.鈥�

Anna Bwana, who was Niambie鈥檚 first project manager and is now our country director for Tanzania, said: 鈥淲e are seeing that listeners of Niambie are more likely than non-listeners to access paralegal services, more likely to have supportive attitudes for young women鈥檚 political participation, and have more ability to make decisions on their political rights.鈥�

Alongside radio and social media content, we are providing training and mentoring for Niambie 鈥榊oung Professionals鈥� 鈥� a group of aspiring young journalists, radio producers, reporters, and presenters from across the country.

Some of these young journalists have gone on to win awards for gender transformative programming and to form a new generation of advocates for women鈥檚 rights.

Anna Bwana added: 鈥淭he most successful part of Niambie over the past 10 years has been just how much it actually does transform people鈥檚 attitudes and their behaviours.

鈥淪tarting with audiences, we have seen that young people who listen to our shows have more knowledge, information, have changed their attitudes and are taking actions to take control of their lives.鈥�