麻豆社

Tikambe!鈥�(Let鈥檚 Talk!) is a joint 麻豆社 Media Action and鈥疪estless Development project working with eight radio partner stations (QFM in Lusaka Province, Radio Mkushi and Power FM Radio鈥痠n Central Province, YAR FM, SUN FM and Radio Chimwemwe on the Copperbelt Province and Radio Mano in Northern Province as well as the state broadcaster Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation ZNBC).

The project uses TV, print, online media and initiatives such as in-school lessons and various outreach activities to ensure that young people have access to accurate and youth friendly sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) information.

All eight partner stations produce weekly radio magazine programmes that encourage open conversations about various SRHR topics that are typically considered taboo. The programmes help to empower young women and men to make informed decisions around matters of sexuality, decision making in relationships, negotiating for safe sex practices and access to sexual reproductive health services.

Research has shown that the Tikambe project has led to increased SRHR knowledge, that signposting has improved referrals to sexual and reproductive health services and that more young people are practising healthier behaviors such as going for HIV testing and using protection when having sex.

鈥淚t has boosted my confidence because I know I鈥檓 sexually active. I am able to talk about condom use with my boyfriend and even provide him with condoms that we can use during sex.鈥�

Female listener, Kabwe

Radio production teams that produce the Tikambe shows receive training and mentoring from 麻豆社 Media Action. Team members have reported being more confident to work on the radio programmes because of training, mentoring and exchange visits to other radio stations.

鈥溌槎股� Media Action has really helped me to develop as an individual in that I am able to work on my own and able to pass my skills to others.鈥�

Lead Producer, Radio Mano

The project has listening groups of young people who provide feedback on programmes to the production teams. They can suggest topics, the type of language that is suitable and the guests they would like on the shows. The radio stations use this feedback to shape their programming to meet young people鈥檚 needs.

Other stakeholders, including parents, feed in through listening group meetings across the 5 districts (Mkushi, Kasama, Lusaka, Kitwe and Kabwe).

鈥淚t has given us more information on how best we can talk to young people without making them feel uncomfortable鈥�

Stakeholders Listening group Member, Kitwe

The project provides opportunities for young people to engage with, and hold accountable, decision makers at community, provincial and national level. Young people use the opportunity to highlight challenges they face and follow up on commitments made at previous meetings.

Project information