Population Media Center (PMC) has spearheaded transformative social change in the Democratic Republic of the Congo through strategic communication interventions. Using serialized radio and audio-visual dramas, they’ve addressed critical issues like gender equality, reproductive health, nutrition, and conflict resolution, fostering dialogue and empowering communities to make informed decisions. PMC’s innovative approach has contributed to positive shifts in behavior and attitudes, paving the way for a more sustainable and equitable society in the DRC.
Program Manager, PMC-Democratic Republic of the Congo
jldushime@populationmedia.org
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), PMC has made a significant impact through its radio programming. PMC produced three influential shows: Pambazuko, which addressed reproductive health, education, and great ape conservation in eastern Congo; Elembo, focusing on critical social issues in Kinshasa, Equateur Province, and Orientale Province; and Vivra Verra, a nationwide broadcast in French promoting discussions on health, education, and gender equality. These programs reflect PMC’s dedication to using radio as a powerful medium for positive change and to support key initiatives aimed at improving societal well-being in the DRC. Very recently in the SEMI project, PMC produced 12 PSA’s and 12 episodes of the audio-visual series TSHOTA in Kasai in Tshiluba. Through engaging storytelling and strategic dissemination, PMC continues to contribute to awareness-building and empowerment across communities in the country.
Elembo (“Footprint”), a locally produced radio drama in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, reached hundreds of thousands of listeners with powerful stories of high-risk sex, poverty, and friendship.
Vivra Verra (“Life Will Tell”), a 156-episode radio drama, aired twice weekly in French on Radio Okapi from 2014 to 2016, reaching listeners across the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Pambazuko, (“New Dawn”) inspired hundreds of thousands of Congolese listeners to make more equitable and sustainable choices for themselves and their communities.
Under the SEMI project implemented in consortium with CORUS/IMA, SANRU and other partners, PMC produced 12 episodes of 15 to 30 minutes of the TSHOTA series to be broadcast in communities in Kasai.
