NAIROBI, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- "Yes to Radio Yes to Trust" is the theme of this year's World Radio Day, a befitting theme that recognizes the role radio plays in people's lives. Koch FM community radio is one of such stations that have played a major role in changing the lives of many young people.
Founded by young human rights activists from Korogocho slum in Nairobi, Kenya's capital, Koch FM is a community-based organization started in 2006.
Ramadhan Kakai, popularly known as Rama among his fans, is one of the main radio presenters and has been working with Koch FM for five years. It covers a wide range of topics, including health, human rights, governance and peace.
"For all the shows have different target audiences and different presenters," said Rama.
The slum is estimated to cover an area of 1.5 square km with a population of about 200,000 people. Maureen Amwai, one of the editors with Koch FM, however, says that the audience coverage includes the adjacent low-class neighborhoods of Korogocho slum.
The mainstream media usually depicted residents from Korogocho as criminals and the community as a hotbed of violence, drug abuse, rape, and other social ills. Rama says they hope to change this narrative as he realizes he has a powerful tool he can use to influence the youth positively through the radio shows.
"Based on what I have seen so far and what we have been experiencing, I really want to see a totally reformed Korogocho and its environs," said Rama.
(Video Reporter: Liu Chang, Li Cheng, Ruth Wangara, Eric Nzioka)■
