Media

Prudence remembers the day she was part of Gender Links (GL) in-house training at ZB FM as if it was yesterday. She talks about the excitement, the waiting and the eagerness as she hoped to learn more. Prudence joined ZB FM as a volunteer in 2013 and has since been allocated a mid-morning slot. As a community radio presenter Prudence has to walk over 10 km to reach the station and engage the listeners. It is a walk she enjoys.

“Watching the SADC Gender Protocol DVD was the best experience I have had with Gender Links (GL). I had no idea what the SADC Protocol was, and now I knowÀ explains Tshepi. Tshepiso works for Sekhukhune community radio and unlike many women who are subjected to glass ceiling practices, she has been appointed a news editor and takes her job seriously.

Themba is the assistant news editor at Nthavhela News. He attended his first workshop with Gender Links (GL) in 2015 during the Management and Editing workshop held at Jacaranda Overnight Accommodation.

Noor is a vibrant, active and probably the most excited community radio station manager in the Limpopo region. Noor has traveled to many countries and describes himself as a versatile manager. He says the SADC protocol DVD and a short story called Dump City captured his attention and made him realise that women are hard workers. “As I was watching the SADC protocol DVD, I got a sense that women are tired of being sidelined and that there are men out there who are willing to be part of the change that is necessary.À

Ms. Bu says the station has not been training staff members and she believes training is necessary. To her the first workshop was not just ordinary, but a workshop she believes was long overdue. “Our station is headed by men, men everywhere! So when Gender Links came and spoke about equality I was very excited.À

“I was confused when I heard Gender Links (GL) would be coming to do training on gender because I expected training on production or news coverage.À These are the words of Livhu summarising her expectations of the media COE in-house workshop in Thohoyandou, Venda. Livhu says she expected a workshop that would focus on the way women should be treated and to her surprise the workshop was entirely about professional journalism and gender sensitivity.

Jimmy is a very polite news editor from Botlokwa, he listens carefully and only speaks when invited. He describes his first encounter with Gender Links (GL) as an eye opener and encouraging in a field dominated by men.

Mrs. Meera Ramputty is a gender champion in the district council of Flacq. She lives in Central Flacq in the Republic of Mauritius. She first met Gender Links in 2012 at a Gender Based Violence (GBV) event. She attended the Gender Links Summit and has encountered Gender Links at several other workshops and campaigns.

Well, Gender Links (GL) has caused me to travel a lot. Since the first workshop, that day for the first time in my life, I travelled by bus to Quatre Bornes. The year following that meeting, I would travel alone for the first time by plane to Johannesburg! Today when I sit and think back, I feel amazed at how, being merely active with an organisation can cause such significant change in attitude and behaviour. GL has helped me grow into the person I am today.

My first encounter with Gender Links was quite unexpected as I did not expect to spend six weeks at the office during my holidays. I was really excited on the eve on my internship. I was very happy to acquire and put into practice what I had learnt during my course as I am currently a third year student doing a B Sc in Sociology (Specialisation: Gender Studies). Gender Links has exposed me to the harsh realities in our society, such as gender based violence.

I was an intern at Gender Links for two months. I helped with the paper work. I was asked by Mary Coopan to help a friend who needed someone to work as there was a very important event coming up (the national summit). As I could not say no to her, I accepted with lot of hesitation. I did not even want to go on the day itself as I was having second thoughts. As I did not want to disappoint her and let her down, I went on the first day but I didn’t want to go back on the second day, but nevertheless went. As I did not want to let the company down, I went on the third day and the fourth day. At the end of the first week, I felt like I was at home. In two weeks’ time, I learned more than I could have learned in a month or two.

Banda believes 100 per cent that it is her role as a journalist to contribute to making a difference to women’s lives. She says part of her role is to inform and educate, and in the process, be able to make a difference in the lives of many women. “Members of the public look up to the media not only for information, education and entertainment but also for some kind of inspiration. The public can use the media as a vehicle to convey their views on various issues,” Banda said. She urged media practitioners to view their jobs as a calling which they can use to improve lives in their communities and make the world a better place for all. Banda says change in one person’s life can inspire others to make their own lives better, and can create hope in other people; there is a ripple effect.