A new community radio station was launched in South Sudan’s Yei River County of Central Equatoria last weekend.
Access Radio 88.8 FM under its slogan “transforming communities” legally registered by the Media Authority and the National Communication Authority aims at supporting and amplifying local voices in areas of peacebuilding, governance, promoting unity, and cultural diversity among others.
Mercy Taban Amule, Access Radio station’s manager told Radio Tamazuj that the platform covering Lainya, Yei, Morobo, Kajo-Keji, and parts of Juba Counties in Central Equatoria State will help improve access to quality and timely information across diverse local communities.
“Access Radio is an independent community-based radio initiative broadcasting programs made for the community, by the community, and about the community and giving a voice and ideas to build a greater range of diverse local communities in Yei,” she said.
Mercy stressed that the station aims to inform and empower citizens by informing and educating them.
Ale Satimon a youth leader in Yei River County appreciated the launch of the radio and urged the management of the station to create spaces for the youth to share ideas.
"We need to see the sense of uniting our people through the radio so that communities share their ideas in bridging the gap of peace, unity, reconciliation due to conflict. I am appealing to the administration of Access Radio to provide a platform for young people to debate on issues of development,” he appealed.
Hawa Adams, a local women rights activist said community radios play a great role in positive social behavior change, good governance, and the development of societies.
“Today we are we in a position where information is being based through radio and without radio access, the society is in darkness and community radio brings in transformation because it uses local languages to communicate to the people and we call on the management of the radio to consider empowering women and create opportunities of working together with the women," she added.
David Balla, a community leader in Yei River County called on the community to support the radio and use it as a tool for positive community transformation.
For his part, Amule Felix, the administrator for defunct Yei River State said access to information is a powerful tool for community social and economic transformation. Amule said the local government will support Access Radio in bringing out challenges affecting communities to the government and development partners.