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Article

Open Access

Transforming the Lives of Ordinary People in Malawi Through Radio Listening Clubs

Author(s)

Peter Mhagama

Full-Text PDF Download XML 1124 Views

DOI:10.17265/2159-5526/2015.11.004

Affiliation(s)

University of Malawi, Malawi

ABSTRACT

This paper examines how radio listening clubs (RLCs) can be used to improve the lives of ordinary people in Malawi especially in rural areas. The paper draws its conclusion from data obtained through focus group discussions (FGDs) with members of RLCs of two community radio stations, namely Nkhotakota and Mzimba. Other data collection techniques employed are semi-structured interviews with station managers of the two radio stations and members of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) working with the RLCs. The paper argues that RLCs can create a platform for ordinary people to share, discuss, and find ways of how they can increase food availability in their homes, alleviate their poverty, empower ordinary people, and enable them to access loans and farm inputs. In that way, RLCs can contribute to the transformation of ordinary people’s lives in the rural areas.

KEYWORDS

Community radio, development, livelihoods, ordinary people, radio listening clubs (RLCs)

Cite this paper

Sociology Study, November 2015, Vol. 5, No. 11, 843-853

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