WUNRN
Our mission
Guided
by our vision to contribute to a world where all women and men have equal and
full social, economic and political participation, the Womanity Foundation
undertakes to empower
girls and women to shape their future and accelerate progress within their
communities.
Our goals
·
Support
girls’ and women’s access to quality
education and vocational
training
·
Create
employment,
revenue generation
and professional career
opportunities for women
·
Promote
mechanisms that give
women a voice in society, politics and governance institutions
·
Protect
women’s and girls’
physical and psychological integrity
Our
approach
The
Womanity Foundation has a hands-on
approach. With the collaboration of our partners and field
staff, we identify local needs, design programs and supervise the
implementation of our initiatives. While aiming at generating systemic change in the
beneficiaries’ communities, we focus on innovation
as well as potential for
growth, sustainability
and replicability.
Project
Example
FIRST
COMMERCIAL RADIO STATION FOR WOMEN IN THE MIDDLE EAST - PALESTINE
While
women account for half the Palestinian Territories’ population, when it comes
to participating in public life they face significant barriers. Male
perspectives dominate the mainstream Palestinian media, which tends to portray
women mostly as victims, reinforcing negative stereotypes. Women also hold only
a handful of the decision-making positions in the national media industry. With
few public platforms catering to their information needs or reflecting their
real interests, women are less able to voice their concerns and are less likely
to become involved with shaping their society. Media and ICTs can play a
powerful role in breaking this cycle.
Our
approach and actions
The
Womanity Foundation established NISAA FM, the first commercial women’s radio station and
website in the Middle East, in late 2009. The station was created to connect,
inform, inspire and promote dialogue among women in the Palestinian Territories
and abroad. By showcasing the positive impact of women’s actions, NISAA FM aims
to change the stereotypical image of women in the Palestinian media.
Under
the direction of Maysoun Odeh Gangat, the station is managed by women. Shows
are produced and presented by women media professionals. Meanwhile, a network
of local female reporters document women’s opinions and conditions across the
country.
NISAA
FM was created with a view to being self-sustaining in 3 to 5 years, as well as
replicable in the region.
Our
current activities
Today,
96 NISAA FM is the fastest growing radio station in the region, reaching more
than 1.8 million women across generations. With 3 daily primetime programmes,
it broadcasts news, interactive talk shows, music and investigative reports on
a range of current issues. Producers strive to showcase the contributions that
Palestinian women make to everyday life and feature inspiring stories of role
models. Broadcasts also carry the opinions of men to engage them in discussions
about women’s rights.
Through
its social media presence, call-in opportunities and vox pop, NISAA FM
encourages women to contribute to the station’s content, become producers
themselves and to have a greater voice.
The
focus now is also on promotion with the aim of increasing the stations’ visibility
and supporters so that by 2013 it will be financially independent. The station
is increasing its cooperation with various organizations relaying their work
and mandate. It is also expanding its broadcast capacity to include, Hebron and
the Gaza strip on FM, while also devising a business and good practice model to
replicate the station’s mandate in other countries.
“Women respond better to their own radio. We are discussing
things that concern us and we are even finding solutions”, NISAA FM
listener- AFP report, July 2010
Our
results so far
·
An
audience survey conducted in 2010 showed that the station had gained 2% of the
audience share in only a few months. A 2nd independent survey conducted by
Jawal Telecommunication Company, ranked NISAA FM among the top 5 most popular
in the West Bank. Feedback from Palestinian women living in refugee camps
across the region was particularly positive towards the station’s programmes.
·
Partnerships
with local and international non-government organizations have been established
to produce segments of the station’s programmes. With a donation from the
American consulate, NISAA FM’s popular show, Break, was financially secure
through 2011 and 2012.
·
Through
other grants from partners such as the UNESCO International Programme for the
Development of Communication (IPDC), NISAA FM trained women from remote areas
in media skills. Further donations allowed the station to set-up repeaters in
the Gaza strip.
·
Ashoka
and the Synergos Arab Social Innovators awarded station director, Maysoun Odeh
Gangat, 2 prestigious fellowships. These programmes represent a unique
opportunity to undertake training, benefit from peer mentoring and access to a
range of professional networks. The fellowships also entailed financial
assistance aimed at supporting the scaling-up of NISAA FM.
·
Maysoun
Odeh Gangat was recognized by the Minister of Women’s Affairs for her
contribution towards enhancing the image of Palestinian women and for helping
to place their issues on the national agenda.
Partners
Synergos,
Ashoka, Ministry of Women Affairs, Business Women Forum.