Category: World Service
Date: 04.09.2006
Printable version
A new phone-in programme, Hip Hop Girls, targeted at 15 to 20-year-old Cambodian women and presenting lively debate on sexual health and relationships, has been launched by the 91Èȱ¬ World Service Trust.
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The programme is presented by 16-year-old Ou Banung and 17-year-old Mon Savthey.
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In a country where women often feel excluded from radio programmes, and traditionally 70 per cent of all callers to radio are male, Hip Hop Girls is already reversing the trend. In the first few programmes, 70 per cent of callers were women aged between 16 and 18.
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The programme aims to give young women the skills and confidence to discuss sex and talk about HIV prevention. It also addresses wider issues such as sexual debut and abstinence stress and whether or not women should wear sexually provocative clothing.
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The show's producer, Seng Bopha, says: "Traditionally, Cambodian women are expected to be silent and not to talk back to men. Programmes like Hip Hop Girls will help to bring sex out of the shadows and reflect wider changes in Cambodian society.
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"Our campaign goal is to encourage people to talk about sex and HIV and AIDS. Young women are twice as likely as men to call in to our programmes. We formatted the phone-in programme to target and appeal to 15 to 20-year-olds."
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Caroline Howie, Director of Health at the 91Èȱ¬ World Service Trust, welcomed the success of Hip Hop Girls: "Tackling HIV and AIDS, maternal and child health as well as raising awareness of acute respiratory infections has been the key focus of the trust's work in Cambodia.
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"Hip Hop Girls is playing an essential role in raising awareness among younger women and crucially giving them a chance to discuss their concerns openly.
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"The popularity of the programme clearly indicates that we are reaching our target audience. All credit is due to its young presenters and producers."
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Hip Hop Girls is broadcast on Sundays at 3.00pm on FM103, Cambodian's leading FM station. The project is funded by the UK Government's Department for International Development.
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The programme was devised by Charles Hamilton, Executive Producer, Radio.
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Notes to Editors
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The 91Èȱ¬ World Service Trust is the 91Èȱ¬'s independent international charity. It works with people in developing and transitional countries to improve the quality of their lives through the innovative use of media.
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91Èȱ¬ World Service Trust
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