Voices from the Field PMC & FVI Radio Drama Broadcast: Reactions to Gobe da Haske (Tomorrow is a Brighter Day)

Population Media Center aired a radio serial drama entitled Gobe da Haske (Tomorrow is a Brighter Day) from February 2006 - January 2007 in . The program was distributed by First Voice International via WorldSpace satellite to community radio stations in Niger. Here are some reactions to the program by key people in Niger.

The series is interesting because it addresses a By nature, drama is very popular with people, delicate issues such as early marriage and violence which is why the series, Gobe da Haske has against young girls. Many programs address this had so much success in our region. theme, but the way in which it is treated in Gobe Radio KOUBEIN - Dosso, Niger da Haske seems to be the best. This way is well understood by the people, and thanks to that, many young girls will be saved and will have the The radio series is loved by women and opportunity to go to school. young people. People in the neighborhoods A teacher from , Niger where our signal does not reach come to the radio station to listen to the show. They often ask our technician to turn up the volume so that they can listen to the The broadcast of this series has truly changed program without leaving home because, our radio station. Listeners often write us to in their minds, its the volume that allows encourage us and most often, to request that the radio signal to reach the villages. PMC increase the number of broadcasts. Radio AGORH - Agadez Niger Radio KARAKARA - , Niger

The radio drama Gobe da Haske has transformed radio programming. Many radio stations have experienced an increase in their audiences, and there are even regions where listeners stop what they’re doing and go inside so they do not miss the show. Above all, they wish for an extension of the program because this drama series speaks to all of society’s ills. It speaks to those things we don’t dare say but rather reveal themselves to be important truths - not only for one’s own benefit, but also for society as a whole. Nouhou Soumana, Secretary of The Union of Radios of Niger I recommend them to all partners and funders to find whatever means necessary to continue this program, which has already succeeded in educating and advancing the people of Niger. Oumarou Hadry, Minister of Culture, Arts & Communication, Niger

USAID strongly supports any donor interest in a follow-on to this program, or for funding similar radio-based activities. Radio is an extremely powerful tool in development, especially in Africa where literacy rates are low, access to information is difficult, and the geographic areas to be covered are vast. We were very impressed with the work done by Population Media Center and First Voice International, and would encourage development organizations wishing to disseminate information on development topics to consider using this approach. Alex Newton, Mission Director, USAID

The quality, availability and relevance of content in this program, which covers topics of fundamental interest to Nigerians in general and youths in particular, is a reality charged with potential... It would, therefore, benefit us to consolidate and grow the programs of FVI-PMC as they address our concerns of how to educate our people and make them true agents of development. Abdoul Ramane Seydou, Minister of Youth, Sports & Francophone Games