Educating Afghans through Radio/TV

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Many of the radio stations in Herat are not currently broadcasting. Radio Meraj has an adapted program content of 11 shows. Importantly their shows include one on health where information on Covid-19, nutrition and winter diseases is provided. Meraj is able to broadcast news. Both the TV and radio stations have a rotating schedule of educational programs, healthcare programs, legal advice clinics and news and other critical information. We are grateful to be able to broadcast as often poorer people have limited news and educational resources. Children who cannot get to school will learn from the shows we provide on air. Keeping learning going is vital for the development of the young.

The radio station covers 8 districts, each of which has approximately 400,000 population. Special speakers attend in person or via zoom including most recently experts on endocrinology, psychology, law, the Afghan-Turkish robotics team, Skating Federation and Martial Arts Foundation.

One listener had this to say, "Your programs are practical and have helped to change my life. After listening to your programs related to culture and social etiquette, I now try to be less angry than before and to look for more relaxing and enjoyable environments.”

AIL Outreach 2021: 23,905 students, 18,132 PPE distributed, 6 health clinics, 50-bed Covid-19 hospital, 95,593 patient treatments, 59,888 health education, 13,050 food aid families served, 22 radio broadcasts daily, 8 hours of TV programs, 12 provinces reached. 

Thank you for your continued interest.

Recent Developments in Afghanistan

Afghanistan has been stunned by recent developments and people are adapting as best they can, to a new situation which remains both unclear and uncertain as to the future.  AIL’s current priority is to provide urgently needed assistance to the thousands of displaced families who have flooded into Kabul and Herat. The private TV and Radio Meraj are not broadcasting. We are following this request and waiting to hear about what changes they may wish for us to make in order to again offer educational outreach programs

There are frequent news updates which are of particular value to the many poorer Afghans who have few means of keeping in touch with the local and national situation. Radio Meraj is providing Covid information and information on the violence and civil war which is occurring throughout the country. We are awaiting instructions in how to recommence and staff are creating content and archiving materials for broadcast at a later date. 

Some centers provide a staging point for aid. Our staff are all working, though offices currently are men only with women working from home. The centers are all female and await instructions from the Taliban with regard to procedures required for reopening centers to our students. Our clinics have expanded their capacity to cope with the large numbers of refugees that are in the area.

The Yacoobi private schools are open and operating under the rules that have been given such as dividing male and female. It is exam season and students are studying hard and sitting their exams as usual. It is a great credit to them and their teachers as everyone has heightened levels of fear, stress and anxiety. We have been touched by the outreach of support and outpouring of donations to help the Afghan people. We thank you for standing by Afghanistan as it faces another humanitarian crisis on top of Covid-19 and drought.

Radio update

The radio station is one of the top two in Herat and people rely on it for news and education. The station broadcasts 18 hours a day and has 14 live programs and 17 pre-recorded ones. Topics covered include: health, education, youth programs, policing and sports.  There are frequent news updates which are of particular value to the many poorer Afghans who have few means of keeping in touch with the local and national situation. Radio Meraj is providing Covid information and information on the violence and civil war which is occurring throughout the country.

Nasrin, a school girl said, “The security situation in our village is very bad and we only have access to radio for news. We rely on Radio Meraj because it has good updates about what is happening.”

 Thank you for your continued interest.