Aiming at bringing hope to those who risk losing it, Radio Voix de la Réconciliation started airing in July 2022 in Muyinga, Burundi. The diocese, located in the northern part of the country, is home to over a hundred thousand people who, like the rest of the population, have seen ethnic conflicts, political injustice, and societal unrest become obstacles to their thriving.
Focused on three pillars: informing, educating, and entertaining, Radio Voix de la Réconciliaiton strives to ignite change in Burundi by working on four key dimensions: the reconciliation of man with himself, with God, with his peers, and with the environment, the station broadcasts shows that touch on topics like education, health, news, and traditions, becoming an important element in the daily lives of the people of Muyinga.
“What I like about the radio is its name. I’ve done my analysis and I can confirm that it really is the voice of reconciliation! This radio airs shows that encourage and comfort, not shows that cause pain. The broadcasts are hosted by young people and adults and they are constructive shows”, says Mathilde Katamano, a loyal listener of Radio Voix de la Réconciliation.
Indeed, the radio station has partnered with Burundian universities to have the students come in and gain practical experience in hosting, news production, broadcasting, and sound engineering. “This job helps me develop my knowledge and stay updated with the world of communications. I am happy to be here and be of service to Radio Voice de la Réconcilition” says Tanguy Désiré Itangishaka, technical director at the radio.
Discover more about this project by watching the first episode of our two-chapter series dedicated to the Diocese of Muyinga.
Inspiring hope: a SIGNIS project empowering new voices is a campaign sponsored by SIGNIS with support from the Catholic Communication Campaign aims to share stories of hope that inspire and generate social transformation from new communication resources—a journey through Burundi, Liberia, Belize, Mexico, and Tanzania.