Using Radio to Promote Equality and Nonviolence in Democratic Republic of the Congo

The Living Peace Institute (LPI), Equimundo’s strategic partner in Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), works to promote gender equality, prevent gender-based violence, and restore peaceful family and community relations in post-conflict Congolese society. Through psychosocial support and group education for men and their partners, coupled with community campaigns and outreach, LPI aims to help couples and families rebuild their relationships and to encourage broader social change.

As part of its campaign in North and South Kivu, LPI is using local radio broadcasts to disseminate Living Peace’s messages about the importance of gender equality, nonviolence, personal responsibility, sexual and reproductive health and rights, family planning, peaceful coexistence, and the healthy expression of emotions.

In 2017, LPI developed 10 radio sketches based on the themes discussed during group sessions, which are at the core of Living Peace programming. These sketches built on LPI’s first radio sketches developed in 2016. In the 2017 sketches, Living Peace participants portray various scenarios that show how men can commit to ending violence against women and children and promoting peace and equality in their daily lives.

LPI worked with REMED (Réseau des Médias pour le Développement) on the production of these sketches, and partnered with local radio stations in North and South Kivu to broadcast the sketches on 10 radio stations in the two provinces.

Listen to the 10 sketches in Swahili below:

Sketch 1: Visiteur inattendu (Unexpected Visitor)