Solo Léa FANIHIA – Madagascar

I work as a journalist at the national radio station. I go to the field for media coverage or just to seek information, then I come to the newsroom and deal with information process before I broadcast stories through radio news or emissions. I was born in Antananarivo and grew up here. I studied communication at the French department at Ankatso after my secondary school in Providence Amparibe. It was mainly my studies in communication which influenced me to work in journalism. I love communicating with other people; I like to be in touch with everyone. I also discovered that information is important in the development of a unified country. I joined this media because at the end of my studies; it became my passion.

I had already heard something about Gender Links before I met Ialfine and her team, but gender wasn’t particularly important to be. One day, they called me, since they knew that I work on social issues. When we were talking about social work, we cannot help but talk about women and problems they meet in their everyday life. It turns out that Gender Links and I work in the same field. After the first meeting, I attended workshops and trainings organized by Gender Links, and of course I meet them in media coverage.

I have learned a lot through my engagement with Gender Links. I have become an more open-minded and self-confident person. I have realized that working with colleagues is the best way to success; we work as a team on everything. Opinion from other members of a team really strengthens my work. I see that solidarity is power, and it’s the only way to achieve development.

I feel good about my work when people agree with me that we need to share our experiences. I also remember that I was particularly touched by a man who fights for gender equality- what I have learnt from that? “Ny firaisan-kina no hery.” I feel like Gender Links has helped me discover a new world, of people who are working for gender equality. Now, I know how to adopt an angle that will drive me towards gender issues.

I apply what I learned from GL in reports, and also in production. And of course, I work with colleagues or ask for their advice and opinions. Thanks to my friends’ opinion, I consider my production through various angles, and what is good for me is that I influenced my friends about the importance of working together. I produce emissions with colleagues and I encourage them to produce from a gendered angle. I can quote Rina Rajosaritahiry and Vincent Andriamanampy on these developments.

I think that it is my role to make difference to other women’s lives because I know most of them do not even know about their rights and how to claim them. This is evidenced in my work. It is also my role to make difference in men’s lives because we have to break up stereotypes. It is evidenced in my actions.

In the future, I plan to write articles for GL – I will produce more emissions on gender issues and gender equality. I notice that broadcasting emissions on the radio station is not sufficient for the level of activities we need; I have a plan but I do not want to divulge it now! There are those who do not understand what Gender Links does and why it is important, so we need to inform them.