Media can be a very effective tool in addressing societal issues. Often referred to as the fourth estate, in fact it is a duty for the media to be at the forefront of change- more so, among the voiceless in society usually those afflicted by poverty. Poverty can be defined as a paucity of material possessions or money. However, we need to look at poverty in a broader sense. A minority group be it religious, people living with disabilities, a different race or tribe face poverty but in a different sense. Their small numbers may result in their needs being sidelined in favor of the majority. Their voice may be lost in the clamor as the many carry the day. Thus poverty is quite diverse and is most aptly defined by those experiencing it in its various forms.
Voice is in itself not as straightforward as we may think. It is not just making sound or agitating for rights but the inclusivity of a person or people in socioeconomic and political processes that affect their lives. It then encompasses consideration of their views in the decisions made that affect their lives. Voice poverty is thus the denial of this fundamental right. But the people must also be able to express themselves and their desires in a manner most comfortable with minimal distortion of their message to those involved in decision making. It is here that media bridges the divide providing a platform through which an understanding can be reached depending on the ‘poor’s’ view of poverty and thus providing the best way to tackle it.
The World Bank had a pilot project- consultation with the poor. 60000 people from 60 countries. They allowed the people experiencing the poverty to describe it thus providing proper information on how to ‘attack’ poverty. This project demonstrated the need for participatory approaches in poverty analysis. This information was input into the World development report 2000/2001 thus helping to link voicelessness and insecurity to poverty. In a more specific example, media has been put to good use in addressing poverty in the Korogocho slums in Nairobi Kenya. Korogocho is the third largest slum in Kenya catering for about 100,000 people. Social amenities are a rarity and the available ones are overstretched. Unemployed youth engage in crime and drug abuse. Government and public sector policies aimed at alleviating the residents problems have failed miserably since policy makers are technocrats who rarely a concrete idea what exactly ails the slum. Their detachment leads to solutions based on their own view of poverty which is often incongruent with the situation on the ground. This gave rise to the Koch initiative.
The diverse initiative includes Koch FM- a community based radio station that is run by residents of the slum and is at the forefront of articulating their issues on their own view and own language. The radio station provides information to the residents on available job opportunities, scholarships and health programs rolled out. Residents can also call in or text to the station sharing their experiences and ideas. This has led to a decrease in insecurity as the community is informed of culprits and areas to avoid increasing vigilance and community policing. There has also been increased awareness about HIV/AIDS prevention and management in the slum reducing infection cases. The radio station has also been used to engage NGO’s that include the Ford foundation leading to better utilization of resources through context specific initiatives.
The initiative also includes the Miss Koch initiative that involves a modeling show, singing and a display of other talents as well. The initiative through a four substantive programme has been instrumental in championing girl rights education and empowerment (WADADA) , adolescent sexual reproductive health and child development (BADILIKA) , human rights , peace and governance (DARAJA) as well as talent and capacity development (BURUDIKA) . In essence the community conceived Koch initiative has been more successful in addressing the challenges of Korogocho residents than most government and non- governmental organization initiatives. These initiatives emphasize the importance of media in helping people find their voice. Media is not just a tool through which information is disseminated. Under the right circumstances, people will interact with media in more expressive ways. Stories about then develop a more personal and human angle since they are involved in the telling rather than being passive subjects being subjected to the lens of outsiders.
In conclusion, the world congress on communication for development held in Rome in October 2006 developed a consensus that lists among its strategic requirements access to communication tools to facilitate communication among the people themselves and between them and the policy makers. Solutions reached must then be context specific to the people affected. This is coupled with support to the ‘developmentally poor’ to have a say. This invariably gives them a voice. And once they get heard, anything is possible.
References
Obonyo, R. (2011, February 9). KOCH INITIATIVES: PRESENATTION TO THE FORD FOUNDATION DELEGATION . Retrieved from Blogspot: http://kochfm.blogspot.com/
Tacchi, J. A. (2008). Voice and poverty. Media Development,. London: The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC).
