The first radio station to be operated by a women’s group in this north Pacific nation went on the air nearly 12 hours a day earlier this week.
Women United Together Marshall Islands, or WUTMI, is an expanding non-government group that is engaged in campaigns to prevent violence against women, promote women candidates for public office and improve health and social conditions of low-income families.
“WUTMI’s goal is to empower our women and girls,” said WUTMI Director Daisy Alik-Momotaro. “Our second goal is to promote and preserve our culture. We strongly believe the radio station will help us achieve these goals.”
The new station is on the FM band and limited in broadcast range to listeners in Majuro, the capital, but Alik-Momotaro said the group hopes to graduate to an AM station for broader national coverage in the future.
College of the Marshall Islands acting President Carl Hacker helped the women’s group prepare a grant request to the Canada Fund, which awarded $20,000 for the radio equipment and training. Staff from WUTMI underwent a two-week training in operating the station earlier this month before the station’s launch.
Hacker said having access to its own station will allow the national women’s group to get key women and development issues out to the public to raise awareness.
