Guadalajara (Mexico), March 5. Thirty girls, boys and teenagers from a neighborhood on the outskirts of the Mexican city of Guadalajara have found in the radio a space for expression, learning and protection against the violence and insecurity they experience in their neighborhood. and their environment.
The girls and boys lead and produce the community radio project Radio Kokone, funded with the support of the Zapopan City Council, in which they talk about issues that concern them such as abuse, animal care, nature, technology and health.
Alondra Anaya Ramos is 13 years old and one of the founders and leaders of the radio. The young girl left her shyness behind and learned to assert her voice not only by hosting programs, but also by coordinating the little classmates and helping to edit all the material they generate each week.
He told EFE that the radio helped him understand that everyone has the right to participate, to organize and to respect the opinions of others because sometimes it is difficult to reach an agreement.
“To solve it, we make (everyone) give ideas on the issues and we vote for the issue that we all want to be formed,” he said.
Together they advocate that rules such as not swearing, not interrupting, taking turns or taking care of the material are followed and together they also ask the script questions and help verify that the material is uploaded to the platform they have on Youtube.
“It is important that we respect each other because we are all the same here and everyone is different and that must be respected,” says Osvaldo Hernández, a 15-year-old boy who received tools through the radio to understand himself better. others.
A SPACE BEFORE VIOLENCE
The radio booth occupies a space in the Community Center of the San Juan de Ocotán neighborhood, a place that offers activities such as cultural workshops and a school for parents, among others.
Boys and girls have a place to climb the slides, practice soccer, play board games, watch videos, or run outside. The center and the radio have become a safe space for them and their mothers in the face of violence, Mariana Arámbula, coordinator of Radio Kokone, told EFE.
“Children find a safe space on the radio, where they can come and watch videos, record,” he said, noting that they have also learned to organize, resolve and participate.
Many members come to the radio accompanying the mothers who are part of the community kitchen, curious to see what they are doing in the kiosk or with the interest of being part of the team that produces the programs they have already heard.
“The children’s animators are the ones who bond with the community and with the mothers of the neighborhood in different contexts of violence and those who tell them about the projects of the community center, they tell them that the radio is a space where the children can express themselves instead of being on the streets or in other places and that’s where they start to come,” Arámbula explained.
Mario Anaya Ramos came to radio at the age of 6 as part of summer school. In addition to letting go of his shyness, the boy learned to sympathize with his peers and not accept bullying.
“This environment is good for me because here we teach you good things and we talk about the rights of girls’ children, we talk about avoiding violence and all that and there (at school) it’s not so good because you are taught bad things or stupid things,” he said.
DIVERSIFIED PROGRAMMING
The group generates programs such as “Kokoneras y kokoneros”, “Las Chicas robot” and “El libro de la semana”, as well as special podcasts on topics such as indigenous cultures or celebrations such as Flag Day.
“Las Chicas robot” is produced by a dozen girls and teenagers eager to talk about technology and video games and is in its second season of shows, an effort that also promotes the presence of girls in science.
“The message is that you can be whatever you want to be and you shouldn’t get carried away by people’s comments and girls can do great things too,” Camila García Ramos, 12, concluded.