Returning to service-learning principles

After the high of broadcasting the first edition of Masakhane, this week provided a vital wake-up call. The week served as an important reminder of a challenge my community partnership will have to overcome, to be assured of a prolonged success of the radio show.

From left: The Masakhane crew talking about the benefits of gardening

MASAKHANE RADIO SHOW PREMIERE WEEK!

Four months of toil and valuable learning will be clear to see this week, as the Masakhane Radio Show has its first broadcast on Friday, 6 May. The public holidays that have come in the past week stalled the progress of the planning of our show, and we even had to delay our first broadcast by a week. But now that our big week has arrived, we have a mini scramble to get things together for the show.

The Masakhane Radio Show & future plans

Radio Grahamstown. Our audio partnership enjoyed another milestone, as the name of the show was identified, as being the Masakhane Radio Show. The inspiration for Masakhane, which means “let’s build”, is taken from the show’s aim to build knowledge of gardening and healthy living within the listenership of Radio Grahamstown, and to promote the community-building aspect of the radio show, something which is an aim of Umthathi. In the week after our last workshop with our audio production partners, I had the opportunity to think of the learning I have gained the past months, and how I have applied it in my work. Drawing up the Term Two Plan of the participatory production project with Annie, I saw the opportunity to reflect on this.

Behind the mic: Xoliswa Mbewu-Maaotla, co-anchor of Masakhane.