Two new interactive VOA radio shows in Burundi are giving a voice to young entrepreneurs and providing up-to-date information about the HIV/AIDS pandemic in the central African country.
The half-hour Kirundi language programs are produced in Burundi and broadcast from the VOA studios in Washington.
On the first edition of the new show Tujahe, young entrepreneurs and those interested in job creation in Burundi were able to share their experiences and get advice from business expert Pierre-Claver Nduwumwami. Tujahe, which airs on Sundays, is hosted by Olivier Nkengurutse and Diane Ndonse.
VOA Central Africa Service Chief Robert Daguillard says, “We see Tujahe as an opportunity for young Burundians to discuss not just business and entrepreneurship, but also what makes it so difficult to create jobs in Burundi, a country with fertile land, good schools and good roads.”
The other new show, called Kira, focuses on the HIV/AIDS crisis, which Burundi’s government has identified as one of the most serious health issues facing the country. On the first edition of the program, Burundian physician and HIV/AIDS expert Anita Munyana answered listener questions with program hosts Alain-Yves Irankunda and Edwige Mbominmpa. The show, which airs on Saturdays, also features reports from the field, audience trivia questions and music by Burundian artists.
VOA Director David Ensor says, “We hope these programs serve the needs of our audience in Burundi by providing an interactive space for discussion and debate. Voice of America is uniquely suited to the creation of programs like these, which utilize local talent and provide up-to-date information about subjects of critical importance.”
The programs are partly funded by grants from USAID and the State Department. They are broadcast on shortwave, FM, and on the Internet.
VOA’s Central African Service, which broadcasts to the Great Lakes region in the Kirundi and Kinyarwanda languages, was created in 1996 and has covered Rwanda’s post-genocide recovery, the conflict in Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi’s civil war.
For more information about this release contact Kyle King at the VOA Public Relations office in Washington at kking@voanews.com. Visit the main VOA webpage at www.voanews.com for links to all of our language services.
