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A radio program raising awareness on child marriage in South Kivu

34995

A radio program raising awareness on child marriage in South Kivu

Congo, Dem. Republic 53 Contributors Launched January 01, 2022 Funding ends:01-01-2023
Project Funded

Testimonial

"I'm 17 years old and already a mother of two children. I was married when I was 13, through the influence of my parents, who insisted that a girl has to marry before the age of 15, according to our custom (Fuliru custom). I didn't know this would cause so many problems for me and my future. Thanks to Radio ONDESE FM's programs and awareness workshops, I have been encouraged to join one of its listening clubs and now I can share my experience with other girls and help them by warning them about the difficulties of being married before 18…"
– Olive NYEMBO, 17 years old

THE CHALLENGE

The Democratic Republic of Congo ranks 9th in the world among those countries with the highest absolute number of child marriages: 1,274,000 young women, aged 20-24 years old, were married before their 18th birthday.

 

Ongoing armed conflict against Rwandan rebels, battling for control over the country’s mineral wealth, has had devastating consequences on all aspects of daily life for the Congolese population. Sexual violence is widespread and has increased in recent years, as has child marriage.

The SOLUTIONS WE'RE PROPOSING

In the South Kivu region, which has been particularly affected by the war, W4’s field partner, Radio Ondese, broadcasts a radio series and holds specialized training workshops to help raise awareness among the local population about the harms of child marriage. In this remote region, local populations are seldom aware of the disastrous consequences of child marriage -- or the legal resources available to help prevent child marriage.

 

Radio Ondese broadcasts radio programs that discuss the specific topic of child marriage in order to spread awareness about the issue and mobilize all community stakeholders – girls, boys, families, local leaders, leaders of civil sector organizations, and members of the local authorities – in a concerted effort to end child marriage. Through a variety of formats (reports, advertisements, news alerts, debates, public discussion programs), these programs seek to provide inhabitants of the South Kivu region with useful information about the causes and consequences of child marriage, and about the resources and means available to prevent child marriage. The aim is to foster a deep, lasting change in mentalities, which will encourage the eradication of child marriage.

 

Radio Ondese’s participatory, inclusive radio series is pioneering in its focus on the specific subject of child marriage. Because radio is a widespread communication tool in the South Kivu region, it is a particularly effective means for raising awareness across a wide population.

THE IMPACT OF GIVING

By giving to this program, you will help finance one or more programs that aim(s) specifically to inform and educate people in South Kivu about the harms of child marriage and the means of prevention. Through testimonials, the provision of important legal and medical information, and a range of discussions with key stakeholders, these radio programs have a profound impact by fostering a change in people’s mentalities.

 

Your giving will help to fund radio programs -- and related listeners’ clubs, discussion groups, and workshops -- that can reach up to 300,000 people in the entire South Kivu region. Imagine the difference your giving can make!

 

Together, we can end child marriage!

 

 

Contributors

Katherine
United States

Around 650 million women and girls alive today were married as children. Unless we accelerate our efforts, 150 million more girls will be married by 2030.

Jade and Morgan
United States

To celebrate our marriage, we hope to make the world one where more girls can grow up to choose their spouse when they’re physically and emotionally ready. Thank you to the people on the ground who work on initiatives like this <3

re
Australia

Anonymous
United States

Kendra
United States

Good luck! I hope everything goes so well. <3

Rita
United States

Elise
Netherlands

This is on behalf of Elle and Pranavi, two young women in Amsterdam who inspired me to help end child marriage

Anjali
United States

Stephen
United States

Sahar
United States

Donna
United States

Ahmad
Canada

Christian
Germany

Lisa
Australia

Silvia
Italy

Women need to be strong and support each other and I hope my donation can make a difference!

Ryan
United States

A gift on behalf of the Black Mass Appeal unfaithful listeners

Anonymous
United Kingdom

Amanda
United States

Anonymous
United States

Brooke
United States

CHRISTINE
Chile

Joely
United Kingdom

Anonymous
United States

Anke
Germany

Kriti
United States

Sahar
United States

Tuan
Australia

Good luck :)

Caroline
United States

May
United States

STEPHANIE
United States

These girls so deserve to develop all their gifts and become happy fulfilled women!

Anonymous
Netherlands

Hannah
United Kingdom

Keep up your amazing work!

Irma
Netherlands

Monica
United States

What you're doing it's awesome!!!!

Sahar
United States

Sahar
United States

Daniela
Australia

Robin
Australia

Sahar
United States

Anonymous
United States

Thomas
United Kingdom

Gita
United Kingdom

fred
France

Anonymous
France

Anna
Ireland

Amazing work! You are an inspiration xx

Anonymous
Canada

Anonymous
Australia

Anonymous
Netherlands

Anonymous
United Kingdom

Anonymous
South Korea

Stephen
United States

keep up the good work

Virginie
Belgium

La Radio Ondese est l'une des radios partenaires de la Fondation Hirondelle RDC. Je suis donc super heureuse de pouvoir participer à cette collecte. Ensemble, nous pouvons lutter contre ces violences faites aux jeunes filles dans notre magnifique pays.

Gaby
France

This Project has ended. No more pledges can be made.