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Nisaa FM Inspires Palestinian Women
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RAMALLAH, West Bank — Nisaa FM is different.
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Radio Nisaa logo
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Devoted solely to women’s issues — slightly unusual for a station in the Middle East — Nisaa FM, which launched in June 2010, strives to positively influence the roles women play in Palestinian society, change the way these women view themselves, and inspire and empower them.
Nisaa FM broadcasts to the central and northern parts of the West Bank and plans to reach the Gaza Strip soon. Station Director Maysoun Odeh Gangat explains that the idea to start Nisaa (which means woman in Arabic) came about during a discussion with Yann Borgstedt, the founder of the Swiss-based Womanity Foundation.
FINDING A VOICE
“Radio is inexpensive and accessible to all and quite popular both in rural and urban areas. My goal was to connect Palestinian women through the power of this medium, to inform and encourage them by providing success stories of other local and regional women so as to eradicate the stereotypical image of women in our society,” she said.
According to a report released in 2009 by the Palestinian Women’s Information and Media Center, 77 percent of females in Gaza have experienced some form of violence with 53 percent being exposed to physical violence, and some 15 percent to sexual abuse. Further research found that 74 percent of women in Gaza are not familiar with any women’s rights organizations. So, essentially and unfortunately, they are left to handle (or not) their situation alone.
“This is a patriarchal and male-dominated society, so changes need to come by addressing males as well,” said Gangat. In this regard, she explains that the station considers men to be partners and not competitors, and believes that social change should develop through the participation of men.
“We have three male employees who respectively work as the technical supervisor, production and music supervisor and an office clerk. The music and production supervisor also presents a cultural program, which is sponsored by the European Union,” she said. “Every day we include men in our programming and discuss issues concerning them individually as well as their situations with women.”
The challenge for Palestinian woman is two-fold. In addition to suffering from the results of the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, these women also face obstacles from within their own society.
After nearly 20 months on air Gangat feels that women truly are benefiting from Nisaa FM. “They now have a voice, a platform where it is possible to share experiences and concerns on various issues including polygamy, divorce, abuse, early marriage and poverty,” she said, “while they are also learning and being entertained.”
CERTAIN HURDLES
Gangat adds that the station touches on issues relating to Islam as well by occasionally hosting Muslim scholars, which discuss controversial issues and clarify the correct Muslim approach to certain topics.
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Morning show presenter Nisreen Awwad
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“Sometimes traditions and culture gets mixed up with Islam and when a Muslim scholar or sheikh talks about an issue he presents the religious perspective,” she said. “We do not wish to provoke the society or create a revolution; we attempt to be objective in our approach and leave it to our listeners to perceive the message in their own way.”
Despite the fact that Nisaa FM is located in a region of checkpoints and roadblocks, Gangat states that for the most part they are able to operate freely and report without hindrances.
“Nisaa FM is not political, even if politicians have been very supportive since the station’s inception. We concentrate on women and community news; our reporters are based in their own communities.”
The station was able to benefit from a UNESCO-sponsored program that trained its reporters and supplied them with mobile phones and recorders for use in the field.
Gangat recalls only one incident where checkpoints between the West Bank cities and villages delayed the trainees’ arrival to their training session. This in turn affected the station’s operation.
One of Nisaa FM’s most popular programs is the morning show entitled “Qahwa Mazboot,” presented by Nisreen Awaad, who comes from the Qalandia refugee camp. “She has become our star. She has been extensively trained in the various aspects of radio production, since our presenters are also producers and sound engineers of their own shows. So it is really a one-woman show,” said Gangat.
In addition to Awaad, Miral Al Azzeh presents an afternoon show. Also a producer and presenter, Al Azzeh, who is a recent graduate from Birzait University, is reputed for her voice and her diversified content.
Despite its many success stories, Nisaa FM is not short of challenges. One main obstacle is frequency interference. “We are located in a relatively small area and are surrounded by many countries, with a packed frequency bandwidth. Some days we experience interference from stations broadcasting from nearby countries such as Jordan, Cyprus, Israel and even Lebanon,” Gangat said.
All just part of a day’s work for a unique and much needed radio station broadcasting from Ramallah. “It’s all certainly worth it,” she said.
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