Radio for Peace Network Launched In Yambio

[Elisabeth Janaina]

Radio for Peace Network Launched In Yambio
"The Bishop called on the member groups to promote media services
among South Sudanese communities and work for peace with no one to be
left out using bottom up approach because top down does not work."
04 June 2017


June 3, 2017

Ref: Two Listener’s Clubs Launched in Yambio

Two radio listeners’ clubs have been officially launched in Yambio,
Western Equatoria by the President of the Sudan Catholic Bishop
Conference (SCBC) and the Catholic Bishop of Diocese of Tombura –
Yambio on June 2, 2017.

In his remarks, Bishop Barani Edwardo Hiboro took an opportunity to
congratulate and expressed gratitude to the development partners
(UNDP & UNESCO) and Community Media Network – Radio for Peace Network
for picking up a role people might be looking as not essential, the
means people are trying to spread the ideology of peace.

“I think you might have put fingers on the right button, because media
is so important, so central, if it’s not there, then the community
cannot grow”, explained the Catholic Prelate.

The Bishop called on the member groups to promote media services among
South Sudanese communities and work for peace with no one to be left
out using bottom up approach because top down does not work.

His Lordship Barani Edwardo Hiboro assured to work with the groups
because he is an eagle listener of different radio stations worldwide.
He asked CMNeTSS to go extra mile to partner with the SCBC, because
the conference have a lot to communicate using the community
instruments and that SCBC should be counted as one of the stronger
partner of CMNeTSS.

Speaking during the same function, Josephine Achiro CMNeTSS Executive
Director on behalf of development partners (UNDP, UNESCO and CMNeTSS
members) told the forum that the team is in Yambio to train Anisa
Radio friends on the roles and responsibilities of listeners’ clubs,
formation and official declaration of the two clubs.

“As media houses in South Sudan for that matter, we believe in our
listeners’ and we believe in our communities. Without them, we cannot
do anything and without us they cannot do anything we all need each
other”.

We are grateful to UNESCO and its partners for supporting communities
in South Sudan through Media, she said, there is a need for the people
of South Sudan to make good use of community Radios for positive
change in the Country CMNeTSS Executive Director emphasized.

Anisa 92 FM Manager Fr. Elario called upon UNDP and UNESCO to offer
more technical support to Anisa Radio staff so that they can
coordinate with the Listeners’ club members to effectively contribute
on peacebuilding programmes. He appealed to development partners to
assist in rehabilitation of the radio be installing advance electronic
media equipment. This will help the radio continue to broadcast and
encourage listeners’ clubs to contribute positive opinion on community
issues of concern and interests.

Fr. Elaria told the forum that the Catholic Diocese of Tombura –
Yambio is making plans to expand the Anisa Radio coverage to reach
areas like Amadi and Tombura through the installation of
repeaters/microwave.

“If UNDP and UNESCO can support this initiative, it can help other
listeners’ club members in a distance locals to contribute towards
realization of durable peace in South Sudan”, Fr. Elario added.

Eight radio receivers, four handset mobile phones and eight pairs of
Kodak batteries donated by the UNESCO under Communities Project in
partnership with UNDP were hand delivered to Anisa FM by the CMNeTSS
Executive Director. The equipment will later be given out to the two
listeners’ clubs comprising 40 members including 20 women by the
management of Anisa radio.

In another development, Bishop Barani Edwardo Hiboro was the guest of
honour during the one-day Peace Forum: “Community Dialogue for
Sustainable Peace”, supported by UNESCO, UNDP and facilitated by
CMNeTSS in Yambio.

In his opening statement, Bishop Hiboro says dialogue is equal, there
is no boss in that and no one is superior in dialogue. That means we
have to sit on one table, you and me to share whatever we are talking
equally. Many times dialogue would fail if one is the boss, when one
claims more rights than the other.

“Community dialogue needs that kind of equality and has to accommodate
all those negative feelings. In dialogue for sustainable peace we must
talk even at the family level to agree on certain principles and to
accept change” ,underlined the Catholic prelate.

He cautioned the forum that the sustainability in the process for
peace needs the people of South Sudan to be humble and move slowly,
but not in hurry.

The panelists were drawn from Justice and Peace Commission, Director
of Peace and Development in the Catholic Diocese of Tombura – Yambio,
Women union representative and moderated by the Director of Anisa
Radio. The key speakers were allotted equal opportunities for their
presentations followed by questions posed by the forum’s participants.

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