FemTALK Birthday

BROADCAST TEAM UPDATE

2025 Update

Bulou Verebunuya - Broadcaster: Suva

Today, FemTALK89FM continues to bring people, especially rural women leaders, young women, women with disabilities and LGBTIQ advocates and activists together in a safe space where they can express their views and opinions.

The Suva radio station operate 24hrs a day with a 300 – watt transmitter aimed at reaching an audience in the densely populated Suva – Lami corridor. Although the Femtalk Labasa is currently out of service, it remains a vital platform for the network in Vanua Levu and a mobile unit consistently travels to conducts rural broadcasts. The initiative focuses on giving back and sharing insights from the interviews we document across Fiji with the women leaders who voice their opinions

We need to break the silence. That is what we do - we create an enabling space where women’s thoughts, voices and ideas matter. The Young Women Feminist Media training introduced young women to the airwaves by developing a model that empowered them to lead broadcasts, create content and grow within the organization.

FemTALK89FM is about community empowerment; it is about taking radio to women in their local communities; it is about enabling women and young women to have a voice, share an opinion about a range of social, economic and political issues that will help bring about sustainable development and peace – including those faced throughout a disaster cycle.

In relation to our audience, our community radio approach is not like a commercial radio; that is set up to attract advertisers. Our community radio platform prioritizes women and other marginalized groups in rural areas, allowing them to discuss their development, human security, peace and development priorities. Significant progress has been made, resulting in the technology change from suitcase radio to console.

As our Women’s Weather watch campaign has illustrated, there is a still long way for women to meaningfully participate in decision making – at the detriment of resilience. At the same time, through the 2-way communication facilitated by the community media process, rural women leaders are empowered as first responders to drive and mobilize engagement in their communities.

Each broadcast is an opportunity to promote the potential that exists within women leaders in local communities and to identify critical development priorities as well as advise developmental programmes. of our progress. The women who participate in each broadcast are supported to freely express their opinions and beliefs.

The radio broadcasts are an opportunity for the diverse rural women to be heard by local leaders from those in local government, right down to the district and provincial levels, most of whom are men. During the broadcasts in the capital city, these interviews are aired, also reaffirm the need for national decision making to be inclusive of rural women’s realities.

2024 Update

Alex Davelevu - Programme Associate: Broadcast (Suva)

Femtalk89fm serves as a community radio station dedicated to women within our community, created for and by them. Established in 2004 by FemLINKPacific, it was the first mobile community radio station in Fiji and the Pacific region. The station, initially named FemTALK 89.2FM, was rebranded to femtalk89fm in 2012. Currently, FemLINKPacific manages the radio station in both Suva and Labasa. This community radio initiative aims to connect rural women, young women, individuals with disabilities, and the LGBTQI+ community, providing them with a platform to articulate their needs regarding peace and human security. At present, the Labasa station is undergoing maintenance, while the Suva station operates continuously, having resumed normal operations after maintenance from April to September 2024. The content broadcasted reflects the diverse demographics of the country, featuring programs such as Market Report, Rainbow Connections, Look at My Ability (LAMA), Here Are the Women, and various success stories from women of different backgrounds.

These programs highlight how the seven security pillars affect women in areas such as personal, community, economic, health, education, environmental, and political security. This platform enables women from various geographical locations across Fiji and the Pacific to amplify their voices in the pursuit of peace and security. In Suva, two broadcasting entities are present, with an additional one functioning in Labasa. Conveners and Correspondents from various districts, including Labasa, Saqani, Lagi/Tawake, West 1 (comprising Nadroga, Sigatoka, Nadi, and Lautoka), and West 2 (encompassing Ba, Tavua, and Rakiraki), play a significant role in the monthly productions carried out by these broadcasters.

Lavinia Tamanikaibau - Broadcaster: Suva

Rewinding to my time as a FemLINKPacific presenter, I spotted the post on social media and was compelled to apply. I applied, and I was successful in getting an interview. I have been a broadcaster at FemlinkPacific for four months now where I have woven myself into the fabric of this community, not just as a FemLINK broadcaster, but as a friend, a confidante and a champion. Through "Here are the Women," I amplify their voices, their struggles, their triumphs and the voices of women, often sidelined in conflict zones. Their stories become bridges, fostering empathy and dismantling stereotypes. With "Day in a Life," I walk alongside them, experiencing their journeys and understanding their worlds. ". And in "Rainbow Pride," I celebrate diversity and inclusion, ensuring every voice rings loud and clear.

Enter Women’s Weather Watch, a grassroots network where real-time weather updates flow directly from women in different communities. With Women’s Weather Watch, the forecast is no longer a distant prediction, but a collaborative conversation, ensuring everyone stays one step ahead of the elements. With weather updates from Fiji Meteorological Service, from broadcasters, plus updates from women in the community and every news segment, every community announcement ripples outwards, carrying a message of unity and understanding. My role however extends beyond individual programs. Each morning, I collate news, bringing listeners the world, filtered through a local lens. I update the weather, ensuring they are prepared for sun or storm. My "abs" is an update to women about community events along with feature article writing in "Community Radio Times" delving deeper, sparking thought and conversation in my life as a broadcaster. Yes, I am a broadcaster, but I am also a mirror reflecting the community, a window to the world, and a platform for change. I am the voice that empowers, inspires, and connects. And as we journey into another century, I stand confident, knowing that our stories, shared through our collective voice, will continue to inform, entertain, and educate, weaving a tapestry richer and more vibrant than ever before.

Esita Talei - Broadcaster: Labasa

Bula Si’a to all the diverse women who are willing to read this piece of art. I am Esita Talei a producer and broadcaster for FemTALK89FM in Labasa, Since 2010 when I came to know about femLink Pacific, as a member of generation next in Labasa. I started my journey with the Suitcase radio with reflections from our FemTALK89fm broadcasters, present and past who would reflect on the purpose and impact of the radio station; sharing their experience and personal highlights of talking to the air waves, to raise the voice of women in all their diversities. We have also adapted media and Information and Communications Technology (ICTs) for our community radio campaigns such as Women’s Weather Watch (WWW) and the invaluable nature of access to information.

With my knowledge and experience working with women and again in a feminist organization,I have grasped every opportunity that has come my way. Being a part time young women joining in this organization has been an amazing journey for me. I have learnt so much by listening to the issues that women face in their daily lives and it has also broadened my knowledge to know more about how to live as a young woman. I feel empowered, interested to explore and learn more about the role of women and community media; and it’s a stepping stone and learning process for me. The culture of practice with the use of community media has influenced women’s narratives as well as their language and women are speaking out more confidently not only in their own vernacular but in English as well.

Now FemTALK89FM is one of the valuable platforms for women in all our diversities including aging women, rural women leaders, carrier women, young women, LGBTQI and Disabilities. I strongly urge you to speak up in whatever space you are included in; whether you are young, aging or whether you are diverse women, YOUR VOICE MATTERS.

Esita is an intelligent young rural women leader, a mother, a market vendor, a house keeper and a broadcaster on FemTALK89FM. She wakes up at 4am to prepare food for her children and also get ready to travel with them, she travels 35km to come to work every day but she ensures that her children travel to school safely, the house is clean and food is prepared for her family before she sits in the broadcast room fromt 8am till 5pm every day to be a voice on the radio station for, by and about women.. She is a member of Navakuru women’s club and Qaqa young women’s group.

Selai Niusere - Broadcaster: Suva

The main purpose of community radio is to contribute content from the communities to enable pluralistic media landscapes.

As a youth leader in my community I joined femLINKpacific's platform as a young women rep from the Nasinu to Nausori corridor and that was when I was first introduced to the platform and also to femTALK89 FM. I had studied in the MBBS programme at the Umandra Prasad School of Medicine at the University of Fiji.

Later,when joining the organisation as a broadcaster and a young women producer on femTALK89FM I found this experience an advantageous and challenging one as well. Knowing that I'm very outspoken and a person who loves to meet new people; producing content, broadcasting and compiling of community news was a totally new thing for me. Adapting in to the field has been very beneficial in the sense of how I have been able to produce content from the mat to the policy makers, for women and about women in their community, amplifying voices of the women and providing capacity building to young women in the sector of information and communication technology.

However, the challenging bit has been trying to reach out to interviewees for productions, and the geographical barriers and lack of equipment in order to compile and amplify opinions and voices of the women.

Leila Gonewai - Broadcaster: Suva

My desire to provide women and girls with a forum to express their views has been one of my driving force since I was a child. Finding a job that would allow you to pursue your passion for women's empowerment and complete your dream job requirements was not an easy task. Furthermore, that was before I applied for the FemLINKpacific "Young Women Broadcasters" position, after receiving an advertisement from a friend. It took a few weeks after applying before I got a call for an interview with FemLINKpacific. I spent the entire night before the interview researching FemLINKpacific and learning as much as I could about the company since I was really anxious.

To my surprise, the questioning the following day focused on my motivation for joining rather than FemLINKpacific. I viewed that as a chance to share my story and my passion for gender equality and women's empowerment, as well as the fact that I had always thought of being a radio announcer as my ideal career. It was also the first job interview I had truly enjoyed, and the interviewers had made me welcomed. After that, I was left with little choice but to wait patiently for a call or email with feedback. After two weeks, I got a call from FemLINKpacific informing me that I had been approved and would be starting training the Monday after. I was thrilled to be starting this new trip.

I have now worked as a broadcaster with FemTALK 89FM in Suva for a year, and these have been the most exciting 12 months of my career. Part of what we do is go out and interview women and members of minority groups in a variety of career fields. I have had the pleasure of getting to know many incredible women, and I have loved hearing their opinions on female empowerment and the guidance they give our listeners on FemTALK 89FM. I have never been more excited to network with more women in Fiji and the Pacific, discover more about the many viewpoints, and views that surround women in our culture. I have also had the amazing opportunity to travel with the Media Team, providing assistance in the work that we do outside of Suva while at the same time gaining experience to further better the work that we do at femLINKpacific.

My one and only hope is that FemLINKpacific will be able to reach more women in remote regions and open FemLINKpacific branches there. That way, young girls will not have to doubt their value or capacity for success; instead, they can work hard without facing social constraints.

Current Features

femTALK 89FM (Feb'20) Suva: Yadrayadravi Program - Justin Maravu

femTALK 89FM Morning Waves host Yvonne Nanovu speaks to Justin Maravu in this Yadrayadravi program. The discussion was around the Yadrayadravi Accountability and Monitoring Project and how we can strengthen civil society organisations in Cakaudrove to practice good governance and accountability. Justin also shared on the activity that Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) hosted in Cakaudrove with school students and the success of this oratory contest.

femTALK 89FM (Feb'20) Suva: Rainbow Connection - Rainbow Pride Foundation

You’re listening to FemTALK89FM, I’m Kalis Vaeceece reporting from the Rainbow Pride Foundation. Here with me is Isikeli Vulavou the Executive Director for the Rainbow Pride Foundation based here in Fiji and Shakira and Simione Tuni who are part of the Rainbow Pride Foundation.

Radio With Pictures 2019

Ep 1 - Disability For this segment of the 3-part series, we hear from person’s living with disability, carers and advocates in this segment on their individual role in the disability movement.

EP 2 - Women In Leadership During the discussion at the 2nd National Consultation in Suva, these women leaders spoke on their role as women leaders in their communities, the challenges they’re faced with and solutions to these challenges.

Ep 3 - Women's Economic Empowerment In this episode, the women leaders discussed the issue of economic empowerment, the challenge that comes with it and the solutions to these challenges.