The simple extent of freedom of Afghan women is threatened by a lack of funding

The women's voice resounds on Begum radio in Kabul

• Hamida Aman is the founder of Begum Radio, which only women speak on.

  AFP

• Saba (right) spoke about the importance of education in one episode.

  AFP

• Students attend a live educational session in the radio building.

  AFP

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On Radio Begum, the voices of Afghan women resound in programs directed at them, lessons for girls who are deprived of school, and psychological advice from the heart of a popular neighborhood in Kabul, with the approval of the ruling extremist Taliban movement.

Hamida Aman, the founder of Begum Radio, which only women speak through, notes that the title "Begum", an aristocrat from Central and South Asia, "was used to call the women of the Maharajas."

"This name was chosen to glorify women," she says.

The radio was launched on International Women's Day on March 8, but women in Afghanistan returned to the shadows, after about five months, with the return of the "Taliban" movement to power in mid-August.

"We don't give up," says Aman, who returned to Kabul after the fall of the first Taliban regime in 2001, and grew up in Switzerland after her family fled Afghanistan.

Radio has become a very essential outlet more than ever, especially for girls.

While public schools no longer open to middle and high school girls, the recording studio at Begum Radio is transformed twice a day into a classroom.

Six girls and three boys, ages 13 and 14, follow along in their book, while the presenter speaks on air.

Today's class deals with social justice, which "is the opposite of extremism," explains the 19-year-old broadcaster, who has been a journalism student for a few months, and asks, "What is justice in Islam?"

"My favorite courses are Dari, English and mathematics," says Mirsal, 13, who has been following classes for two months in the studio. "I feel sad since the schools closed.

They are depriving us of the lesson.”

They look like the blind

She addresses the Afghan women of her generation by saying: “Listen to this episode carefully so that you can take advantage of this opportunity to continue learning.”

As for Mursal, she asks the Taliban to "reopen our schools."

Adult texts are also read on the radio, such as Michelle Obama's memoir "Beckaming", which is read by the director of the radio, Saba Schmann, 24, in the Dari language.

One of the programs that the latter is proud of is the psychological support programs for listeners who can call the radio, ask questions and talk about their problems.

Saba spoke about the importance of education in one of the episodes. In 2016, only 18% of Afghan women were proficient in reading and writing, compared to 62% of men with similar abilities, according to the Ministry of Education at the time.

One of the listeners calls and says, “People who have not learned to read are like blind people,” adding, “The pharmacist always gives me expired medicines, but if I could read, he wouldn’t have done that.”

Aman points out that "this radio brings together the voice of women, their pain and their frustration."

"My only hope at the moment is that I know I'm doing something important in my life to help Afghan women," she said.

Dozens of female radio employees consider them lucky to find this job opportunity, while many women have not returned to work since the Taliban movement came to power.

In September, the movement granted permission to Radio Begum to broadcast its programmes.

Find financing

Prior to August, Begum Radio employees were working with their male colleagues on a radio geared towards young men and women.

Now, they were separated by walls, each working from a certain floor according to his gender, and a large curtain was placed in front of the women's desk.

“We put quieter music on,” says Hamida Aman, so traditional songs have replaced pop songs.

In November, the Begum Radio Corporation met the spokesman for the Taliban government, Zabihullah Mujahid.

She explains that she told him that the radio station was "working to give women a voice to talk about their rights", and that "he was very encouraging of the idea, and said it was important."

"We have to show that we don't have to be afraid," she says.

Public spaces must be occupied.

Many people, especially young men and women, are terrified of (the Taliban)."

The radio broadcasts its programs, which are transmitted directly through Facebook, in Kabul and the neighborhood, with the aim of expanding the broadcasting to rural areas.

However, economic difficulties and restrictions imposed by the Taliban government prevent the continuity of the private media, which raises concerns for the media in Afghanistan.

Hamida Aman continues to search for sources of funding for the radio, as it is no longer funded by advertising.

If funding is not secured in the next three months, broadcasting will cease, and with it the simple amount of freedom that Afghan women yearn for.

• The radio broadcasts its programs, which are transmitted directly through "Facebook" in Kabul and the neighborhood, with the aim of expanding the broadcasting to rural areas.

• The economic difficulties and restrictions imposed by the "Taliban" government prevent the continuity of the private media, which raises fears for the media in Afghanistan.

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