THE CONTEXT OF YOUR INITIATIVE

The Pag-La-Yiri association is a women's development association based in the centre-east region of Burkina Faso, in Boulgou province. Created in 1975 this association fights for the well-being of the population, notably for women living in rural areas. The HQ is in Zabré and the association intervenes in 11 areas across 5 communes (Zabré, Zonsé, Zoaga, Garango and Gomboussougou) in the provinces of Boulgou and Zoundwéogo.

In order to educate the population and raise awareness about development topics amongst women living in rural areas (communicating and providing information) the association launched a community radio station, 'Radio Pag-La-Yiri'.

Financial and technical support from a Dutch NGO called IICD (The International Institute for Communication and Development) enabled us to launch Radio Pag-La-Yiri. We signed our first convention with the CSC (High Council for Communication) on 18 October 2007 and this agreement was renewed on 15 February 2013.
The main objective was to ensure women’s voices are heard given that both the association and the radio initiative are led by women. Radio Pag-La-Yiri is the only radio station in the commune of Zabré. It has been broadcasting officially since 8 February 2009.

Radio Pag-La-Yiri, despite being a specifically 'women's radio station' and a 'community radio station', is also a generalist radio station.

The radio station's specific objective is to contribute towards raising awareness amongst the local population by encouraging them to lead positive action, boosting integral human development.

With a transmission range of 80 kilometres Radio Pag-La-Yiri targets village communities (men, women and young people) and branches of the association are based in these villages. Radio Pag-La-Yiri's broadcasts are generally addressed to the entire local population.

THE ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT AS PART OF YOUR INITIATIVE

A journal in the local language focusing on life in the community.

Synchronising the information sessions broadcasted by Radiotélévision Burkina Faso in French and in the national languages.

Broadcasting the information sessions that focus on Africa (Afrique matin, Afrique midi and Afrique soir in partnership with RFI, Radio Pag-La-Yiri).

Broadcasting the opinions and communiqués from the community and from the State's decentralised services in French and in the local language.

Broadcasting entertainment programmes.

Broadcasting awareness raising programmes on different topics (promoting women, health, hygiene and sanitation, local development, etc).

WHO IS INVOLVED FROM OUR GROUP?

5 staff members (4 presenters and 1 director of programming) work full-time for the radio station.

15 volunteer freelance journalists come in from time to time to support this initiative.

WHICH PARTNERS ARE YOU WORKING WITH ON THIS INITIATIVE?

• The Ministry of Communication has always, since the beginning, provided subsidies for the radio station
• The CSC (High Council for Communication)
• The IICD (International Institute for Communication and Development)
• The Yam Pukri association
• The town halls of Zabré, Zoaga, Zonsé and Gomboussougou
• The Zabré health district
• The Ministries and decentralised services of the State of Burkina Faso (health, agriculture, education, social action)

The commune of Zabré, which is 180km from the capital Ouagadougou, had no access to information in the past as the transmission coverage of the national radio stations did not reach Zabré.

The Pag-La-Yiri association gave itself the objective of meeting this need by reaching out to partners who could help us set up a radio station for the community.

The IICD (International Institute for Communication and Development) decided to support Pag-La-Yiri to get this ambitious project led by women in a rural commune off the ground.

We signed our first convention with the CSC (High Council for Communication) on 18 October 2007.

Radio Pag-La-Yiri has been broadcasting officially since 8 February 2009.

The radio station is now the pride of the people of the commune as well as for people from elsewhere in the province and region.

It is a powerful communication tool to help change behaviours and it is used by several stakeholders to reach out to their target audience.

FUTURE PROSPECTS

 Having a good connection for the radio station, facilitating access to information.

 Live broadcasting on the Internet.

 Making the radio station into a journalism training centre for young people, above all for young girls.

 Signing partnership agreements with other structures who support community radio stations.

 Developing partnerships with other developing radio stations.

SHARE YOUR PROGRESS AND THE ACHIEVEMENTS OF THIS INITIATIVE

Radio Pag-La-Yiri, a community radio station in the countryside, has been able to assure continuous broadcasting from 5.30am to 10pm, making a total of 17 hours of broadcasts per day.

The radio station uses 6 different languages: Bissa (the most frequently used language), Koussaré, Mooré, Fulfulde, Nankana and French (not frequently used). We are waiting for a study to be completed about our audience but we estimate that over 600,000 people listen to Radio Pag-La-Yiri.

Radio Pag-La-Yiri leads several diverse activities to satisfy its listeners. Radio Pag-La-Yiri has developed a wide range of areas of expertise over the years, including:

• producing and broadcasting both advertisements and small-scale awareness raising programmes
• organising public debates
• educational games on the radio
• reports
• the news, etc.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO ADD ANY INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR INITIATIVE?

Impact outside:

 The radio station was recognised by the CSC on 20 December 2013 in Ouagadougou for its services to the nation.
 The local population has been very appreciative of the activities led by the radio station.
 The initiatives led by the radio station have been recognised by the state as well as by traditional and religious bodies who use radio services.

Radio Pag-La-Yiri enables people to have access to information and helps raise awareness amongst women and others living in rural areas. We choose to align our initiative with the struggle for 'social justice'.

WHAT ARE YOUR PROSPECTS?

To find new partners to help the radio station to launch certain activities.