In the January 2025 Umukenyezi Iwacu episode, women traders shared how they plan and save for the year-end holidays.
January to March 2025
Our radio programme covered savings, small-business finance, family decision-making, disability inclusion and women’s leadership.
Our Umukenyezi Iwacu programme brings women’s experiences and questions to community radio. The first episodes of 2025, on 16 and 17 January, focused on women traders. The first featured women traders — Odette, a vegetable seller, Jacqueline, a fruit seller, and Aline, a banana seller — discussing how they save throughout the year to prepare for end-of-year celebrations, with journalist Jacky hosting and coordination by Remy Harerimana and our Director. The next day, women traders discussed the capital needed to grow small businesses and ways to find financing. Emelyne Emerimana of DIFO shared information about financing available through microfinance institutions and banks.
Other conversations examined whether the Kirundi saying “niko zubakwa” is used to excuse abuse against women, and discussed how spouses share household decisions.
A group of episodes followed the experiences of women and girls with disabilities in their families, schools and workplaces. Guests, including Igiraneza Francine and Nizeyimana Odile, discussed how disabled women are treated compared with male relatives, the protection of their rights, school access and low enrolment, workplace barriers and possible responses. Another episode featured women leaders in Murwi commune, Cibitoke, discussing local decision-making, family responsibilities and ways to encourage more women to take part in governance.
Community radio listings for the programme named stations including Isanganiro, CDN, Terimbere FM, Izere FM, Ejo Heza FM and Radio-TV Buntu.
Part of Communication & Media: Umukenyezi Iwacu and the Women Reporters Network.
