EMPOWERLINE PLUS EQUIPS RADIO LISTENING CLUBS TO PROMOTE JUSTICE AND SOCIAL ACCOUNTABILITY

NICE Public Trust, in collaboration with the Gender and Justice Unit, conducted a 2-day EmpowerLine Plus Awareness Training at Malawi Sun Hotel in Blantyre. The training was aimed at equipping NICE District Programmes Officers and representatives of Radio Listening Clubs from the Southern Region on how they can strengthen communities to access justice, legal literacy, and Gender-Based Violence (GBV) response services.

Participants were empowered with knowledge and skills required to transform Radio Listening Clubs from passive listeners into active community hubs for social accountability, legal literacy, and human rights promotion. Participants also gained practical knowledge on the EmpowerLine Plus Project and the EmpowerLine toll-free service (2485), which provides survivors of Gender Based Violence and vulnerable individuals with access to legal and psychosocial support.

Throughout the two-day training, participants explored the background and role of Radio Listening Clubs, key gender-related laws in Malawi and the penalties attached to them, laws on abuse and marriage, strategies for addressing social stigma, and GBV response and referral pathways. Sessions also highlighted the importance of using technology to improve access to justice and encouraged participants to develop community-based strategies for promoting the EmpowerLine service.

The training also provided an opportunity for participants to share success stories demonstrating the impact of Radio Listening Clubs in their communities. These included advocating for the construction of a bridge after learners lost their lives while crossing a river, facilitating compensation for citizens whose properties had been damaged, promoting transparency in Constituency Development Fund (CDF) projects, supporting the establishment of a secondary school under Traditional Authority Chimombo, increasing women’s representation in Village Development Committee leadership, exposing the illegal collection of money from learners in public schools, and contributing to the reduction of child marriages through collaboration with youth networks.

Speaking during the training, facilitators emphasized that Radio Listening Clubs are increasingly becoming trusted community platforms that amplify citizens’ voices, promote accountability, and bridge the gap between communities and duty bearers. Participants committed to sharing the knowledge gained with Traditional Leaders and using existing community meetings and local structures to raise awareness about the EmpowerLine Plus Project and the toll-free service (2458). This digital line will ensure that more citizens can access timely information, justice, and support services.

The EmpowerLine Plus initiative reinforces NICE Public Trust’s commitment to empowering communities with the knowledge and tools needed to protect human rights, prevent Gender-Based Violence, and promote inclusive and accountable development across Malawi.