Radio Lío is a project inspired by Pope Francis’ call to youth to “make noise” (hacer lío, in Spanish) during World Youth Day in Rio de Janeiro in 2013. Radio Lío, la chispa de la palabra, is a radio station made by young people for young people that unites radio enthusiasts and professionals across 11 countries in Latin America.
This initiative was spearheaded by SIGNIS Latin American and Caribbean, SIGNIS ALC, as a media education project where young people could learn everything that goes behind the production and broadcasting of a radio program, and then air it themselves within the Radio Lío network. As an online radio station, it is possible to tune in from anywhere in the world and listen to programs that touch on social issues, safeguarding our common home, shining a light on cultural traditions and discuss pressing topics for young people all over the Region.
“Radio Lío for me is a chance to bring the spotlight to those stories that normally don’t get mainstream attention,” says Vania Sevilla, producer at Radio Lío. “This is an opportunity so all the marginalized topics and communities get the importance they deserve, to bring up the voices of those who are silenced. The world needs fixing and I think Radio Lío is an inspiration to bring awareness and have people unite for a better society”.
Radio Lío is a unique project as it is the only SIGNIS media outlet in the world. Founded in 2019, it is now in its third round of formative sessions and it is a reality that airs in various platforms. “We wish to educate young people so they can educate even more people. This is a permanent formation program, our goal is to integrate our associates in the regions and ensure that young people from all latitudes can unite in one big multicultural dialogue”, says Carlos Ferraro, president of SIGNIS ALC and specialist in media education.
“For me, Radio Lío is a space where I can expand my horizons by collaborating with people from all over the region, I can practice the journalism I believe in and defend: a journalism that gives a voice to all people and allows all cultures to be represented. I hope to keep contributing to this radio that is alive and transformative”, says Barbara Márquez, producer at Radio Lío.
For Alessandro Gomes, executive director at Radio Lío, this project is exciting and encouraging as you can witness young people working to improve the lives of other people. “This project inspires people to be more critical about their daily lives”. Through music, interviews, sports, conversations and dialogues, Radio Lío touches on topics like justice and human rights, challenging people to hear viewpoints they normally wouldn’t even consider. Thus, providing full context and allowing people to figure out their own opinions.
“Radio Lío is a space of community, a space of media education where young people can join their voices to scream in the name of justice, freedom, democracy, and participation,” says Yorman Galviz, producer at Radio Lío. “This is a space of Latin American integration and I am so grateful for it as it opens the doors to all youth across the Region. We are setting a precedent for communication in Latin America and the world”.
What sets Radio Lío apart is not only its role in training young voices but also its commitment to seeking out the stories of those often unheard. By empathizing with individuals and embracing transparency, Radio Lío delivers news coverage that is authentic and humanizing.
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.