Inspiring “Nyampingas” in Rwanda Through Radio

The hosts of Ni Nyampinga, a radio program produced by and for young women in Rwanda.

Antoinette on the air.

By: Ashley Murphy

At twenty-two years of age, Antoinette dreams of becoming a radio journalist, broadcasting about pertinent issues across the airwaves, to inform and inspire. Yet she also dreams of becoming a lawyer, defending the laws of her country and the rights of its citizens. Then again, she may aspire to become a film actress, fulfilling a third dream of jumping into fictitious roles to entertain.  Whatever path she may choose, Antoinette has the power and confidence to forge her own way. Yet the seemingly basic attributes necessary to motivate youth to pursue endless avenues are less prominent in her culture than one may think. Antoinette is Rwandan, and this means many of her peers often lack the voice necessary to assert themselves and shape their futures into whatever they imagine. Furthermore, a deficit of available outlets through which young girls can exert themselves also contributes to limiting their potential.

Out of this void came Ni Nyampinga, a radio magazine program established by Search for Common Ground in partnership with Girl Hub in 2011 to shift the way young girls perceive themselves, from passive to proactive, timid to bold. It is meant to encourage, to inspire action, and to bring awareness to culturally-entrenched gender roles that can be debilitating for youth. Ni Nyampinga encapsulates the idea of a role model, hence deriving its name from the term, nyampinga, which in Rwandan culture refers to a young girl full of determination who is a role model for others.

Radio host, Benie, interviewing someone in the field.

While Rwanda is the world leader in female representation in national government (56% of Parliamentarians are women), there are still significant gaps in terms of how this translates in everyday life. Young girls in particular often lack the confidence and power that their male counterparts possess, which hinders them from feeling visible in their society. Ni Nyampinga draws on radio, the most popular and readily available source of information in Rwanda, to forge a space where girls can learn how to accentuate their positive qualities, express their opinions, and develop the courage and self-confidence to become leaders.  It promotes mobility and change through an expansive umbrella of inspiration.

The weekly program is designed, produced, and hosted by a team of twelve Rwandan girls between the ages of 17 and 22, who are supported by an adult mentor. As proactive leaders of a popular national radio program, the girls inspire their audience to become proactive leaders themselves.

Antoinette interviewing someone in the field.

Antoinette, the girl with many dreams, is one of these inspiring hosts, infusing the program with her own confidence and motivation.  As a nyampinga, Antoinette is helping other young girls to build their dreams, even as she continues to build her own.

The girls editing Ni Nyampinga in the studio.

To continue supporting female empowerment and nyampingas like Antoinette throughout the region, SFCG has submitted an application profiling this idea to Ashoka Changemakers’ competition, “Activating Empathy: Transforming Schools to Teach What Matters”. The public is able to vote for the best ideas, so please visit our application’s profile here to vote for Ni Nyampinga and help it grow. Voting begins the 29th of May and ends the 12th of June. You can also support Ni Nyampinga by visiting our Facebook page and becoming our fan.

Ashley Murphy is an international intern with SFCG in Kigali, Rwanda. She holds a bachelor’s degree from American University in International Studies.