User Menu Triggers
Victor's Hope
By Bunmi Orogun
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
South Africa
18 April 2024
A microphone in a studio [Image by Jacek Dylag on Unsplash]
Ithemba Lomnqobi means "Victor's Hope" in the isiZulu language. It is a radio programme hosted by TWR Africa that uses dramatic arts as a conduit of hope for maltreated children and the caregivers who nurture and support them.
What is child maltreatment, and why does it matter?
Child maltreatment is a widespread issue in South Africa and the world at large. It is a broad term that refers to the physical, emotional and sexual abuse or the neglect of children under the age of 18.[1] Up to 300 million children suffer maltreatment globally, with effects that are far-reaching and sustained. The apparent effects of child maltreatment are death, physical injury and disability. Other effects include stress that could tamper with brain development and damage nervous systems, leading to cognitive development delays that can negatively affect children even into adulthood. In South Africa, child maltreatment is a growing problem as a 2023 report showed that over 2,500 children were violently maltreated within three months, out of which 245 children did not survive.[2]
How does radio drama help?
Even though media and their accessibility have evolved drastically over the decades, radio remains a meaningful way to access information in remote areas because radio units are relatively cheap. Once obtained, radio units are easy to operate and do not require payment to access their services.
Radio drama is a powerful tool for instruction. It creates safe spaces and indirectly presents actions and reactions within environments. How actions and reactions are presented can serve as an instructional tool that can be accessed in a nonconfrontational manner.
Similarly, the Bible uses parables (dramatized prose) to teach sensitive topics. Worthy of note is the parable of the trees in Judges 9. Jotham was the youngest of 70 sons and had just witnessed his brother Abimelech murder 68 of their brothers. Jotham's life was in danger, especially because Abimelech had already been crowned a de facto king. Jotham wished to declare that his brother Abimelech was unjust and unworthy of being king, and he used the parable of the trees in crafting a dramatic narration through which his message was conveyed in a nonconfrontational and instructive manner.
How does Victor’s Hope make a difference?
Ithemba Lomnqobi, launched in 2022, is a 15-minute radio programme broadcast in the isiZulu language with culturally relevant content to instruct and empower caregivers of maltreated children. Ithemba Lomnqobi is featured weekly on Highway Radio, on Tuesdays at 21h30, which reaches KwaZulu-Natal, the biggest province in South Africa, with 61 municipalities. Its dramatic storylines address pertinent topics like abuse, grief and pain.
Petros Gwala is a TWR ministries project manager and the producer of Ithemba Lomnqobi. He provided further insight into the great need this radio programme fulfils. He stated that this radio programme is specifically geared towards caregivers in rural areas who can only sometimes access information and resources more readily available in urban areas. He also pointed out that the COVID pandemic period saw exacerbated abuse cases, and with churches and other resource buildings closed due to shutdown, Ithemba Lomnqobi began bridging the resource availability gap from its inception in 2022.
Challenges and future direction
The Ithemba Lomnqobi radio programme is still growing and needs the engagement of more field workers as well as more equipment to facilitate production. In addition, Gwala shared that, in the future, the radio programme plans to feature testimonies of surviving victors who have gallantly overcome the effects of abuse. Through this radio programme, TWR has great plans to increase reach and production, depending on radio airtime, as negotiations are needed to keep the programme on the air.
The effort to continue to reach the rising victors and their caregivers with a message of hope, even in remote areas, through the power of radio broadcasts welcomes financial partners. Donations would go towards acquiring equipment, negotiating airtime and developing informational pamphlets to facilitate awareness and skill acquisition for caregivers who support these affected children.
I want to champion the victors!
Please use the following banking details:
Trans World Radio Africa
Standard Bank | Account: 01 193 294 5
Branch: 051 001
Ref ‘Victor’s Hope’
I need prayer
Please send a message to:
Email: info@twrafrica.org
WhatsApp/Signal +27 72 641 4475
[1] WHO Child Maltreatment Fact Sheet (2022) https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/child-maltreatment
[2] UNICEF Crime statistics (2023) https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/press-releases/crime-statistics-devastating-violence-against-children-and-women-continues
Bunmi Orogun
Bunmi Orogun serves as a volunteer writer with the TWR Africa team.
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
South Africa
The vast continent of Africa is home to nearly 2,500 ethnic groups, and many of them are Muslims. Throughout the rural settings...
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
Africa - West & Central,
Radio
From TWR’s West Africa Transmitting Station, we broadcast programs in about 30 languages from two powerful transmitters, each...
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
MIF
During the global pandemic, people have begun reading the Bible and searching for God as never before, and TWR has stepped up...
Africa
As people in Africa migrate and move (sometimes at the sound and approach of gunfire), radios and bibles are often misplaced or...
Africa,
RFTW
In some cultures, becoming a Christian can mean persecution within the family and community, so accepting Jesus is not an easy...
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
MIF
The main electricity supplier in South Africa has been implementing rolling power cuts, called load shedding, to various areas...
Africa,
Eswatini,
MIF
Dark, desolate, and dangerous. These words easily describe most prisons in Africa. The hearts of incarcerated men and women are...
Africa,
MIF,
S&E Africa
Eswatini is a country in southern Africa formerly known as Swaziland, and TWR has been broadcasting from this site across...
Africa,
Eswatini,
S&E Africa
The path taken by a non-believer to become a Christian can be full of pitfalls as an individual takes on a different life and...
Africa,
Reach the Last,
Unreached,
W&C Africa
TWR MOTION creates compelling videos that inspire people of all cultures to follow Jesus. Church planters around the world use...
Global,
MIF,
Reach the Last,
Unreached,
TWR MOTION
The Way of Righteousness is a radio program that is expanding rapidly around the TWR world because of its proven ability to...
Global,
MIF
What will it take to reach the last? TWR is joining with you – our generous partners – and other organizations around the world...
Global,
MIF,
RFTW
TWR Women of Hope brings hope in Jesus to women around the world and across generations. We seek to educate, encourage, and...
Africa,
Americas,
Asia,
Europe,
Global,
MIF,
TWR Women of Hope
A trafficked or sexually exploited woman is often hidden in plain sight. A different story can become her reality, but who will...
Europe - Northwest,
Global,
Hope Challenge,
TWR Women of Hope
All around the world, women in countless countries are suffering in ways that create unique hardships for them.
Featured,
Hope Challenge,
Global,
RFTW,
TWR Women of Hope
Dr. Luke is an evangelistic health and hygiene program written by a longtime missionary doctor who brings a biblical...
Global,
MIF
“God is acting, and my life is being transformed, and he will transform my marriage as well," said a man in Latin America as he...
TWR360.org is the world’s premier online tool for accessing Christian media resources in over 140 languages – and growing. The...
Global,
MIF,
RFTW,
TWR360
Can't find what you're looking for or a role that fits you? Let us know about your interests and skills and we'll help you do...
Africa,
Americas,
Asia,
Europe,
Global,
Middle East,
Full Time,
Part Time,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
Long-term (1+ years),
Short-term (3-12 mo.),
Missionary,
Volunteer
Aid the station director and leadership team with administrative tasks!
Administrative,
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary
Come and help the TWR Africa transmitter site team with their existing property and community development plan/stewardship...
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Engineering,
Maintenance,
Project Management,
Eswatini,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
Short-term (3-12 mo.)
Come help maintain our equipment to ensure the continued production of high quality FM radio programs!
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Maintenance,
Missionary,
South Africa
Play an active role in our commitment to being good stewards of the resources God has entrusted to us!
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Finance,
Full Time,
Part Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary
Put your engineering skills to work at TWR's transmitter site, broadcasting to millions every day!
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Engineering,
Featured,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary
Speak hope on air to millions (literally!)
A-V Production,
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary,
South Africa
Come and tell the story of TWR's part in God's global redemptive work!
Africa,
Asia,
Europe,
Marketing,
Missionary,
Short-term (3-12 mo.)
Facilitate our radio broadcasts to the world through enabling machinery to function at its best!
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Engineering,
Maintenance,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
Short-term (3-12 mo.),
Missionary
Can't find what you're looking for or a role that fits you? Let us know about your interests and skills and we'll help you do...
Africa,
Americas,
Asia,
Europe,
Global,
Middle East,
Full Time,
Part Time,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
Long-term (1+ years),
Short-term (3-12 mo.),
Missionary,
Volunteer
Be a part of the global mission field while using your gifts in accounting and finance!
Americas,
Asia,
Americas - North,
Finance,
Guam,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
USA
Aid our IT department with administrative tasks!
Administrative,
Information Technology,
Americas,
Global,
Americas - North,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary,
USA
Use your knowledge about the people of Afghanistan to bring the good news to this hard-pressed people group!
Administrative,
Project Management,
Americas,
Europe,
Global,
Middle East,
Featured,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary,
USA
Work with an international team to record, edit and produce media content for global distribution.
A-V Production,
Americas,
Global,
Americas - North,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
USA
Analyze audience responses to help improve our ministry to the unreached!
Americas,
Global,
Americas - North,
Information Technology,
Internship (2-3 mo.),
USA
Offer your experience in operational management to improving our global operation processes!
Americas,
Global,
Americas - North,
Engineering,
Information Technology,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary,
USA
Connect churches’ global outreach calling to TWR’s international media ministry!
Administrative,
Americas,
Global,
Americas - North,
Full Time,
Long-term (1+ years),
Missionary,
USA
Invest your data management and reporting talents in missions to help reach the world for Christ!
Americas,
Global,
Americas - North,
Featured,
Full Time,
Information Technology,
Missionary,
USA
Anthony and Karen serve in our Africa Region office, in Kempton Park, South Africa. They joined TWR on December 1st, 2001, and...
Africa
The Burnetts are a South African family and have been with TWR since 1982, serving in the Africa region. They spent 12 years in...
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
Engineering,
TWR Women of Hope
Greg was called to missions at a young age and responded by joining TWR in 1995 after completing an electronics technician...
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
Finance,
Leadership
The Dunlops, from High River, Alberta, have a heart for missions and are excited to continue to serve with TWR. Nathan has a...
A-V Production,
Africa
The Kennedys have been with Trans World Radio (TWR) since 2002. They have served in North Africa and in various West African...
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Engineering
The Schieles have been with TWR since 1992, beginning in the Swaziland office. Having spent a few years in the Cary, N.C....
Africa,
Africa - South & East,
Information Technology,
TWR Women of Hope
Steve joined TWR Swaziland in May 1977 as an electrical engineer. In 1978 he met Lorraine. They returned together to...
Administrative,
Engineering,
Africa,
Africa - South & East
Luke is currently a student at Indiana Wesleyan University where he is studying Mechanical Engineering. Luke’s giftedness in...
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Engineering,
Internship (2-3 mo.)
Currently a senior at Messiah University, Elizabeth is studying Electrical Engineering. She will be using her skills to join...
Africa,
Africa - West & Central,
Engineering,
Internship (2-3 mo.)
Joe Barker was born in Canada and grew up as a pastor’s son in Canada, the U.S. and the Bahamas before studying communications...
Global,
Leadership
Lonnie joined TWR in September 2017. He is the author of Every Man A Warrior, a men’s ministry discipleship curriculum that has...
Global,
Leadership
Harry has been with TWR since 1981 and spent his first 14 years on Guam, followed by 23.5 years in the Netherlands. He and his...
Administrative,
Global
After serving in Austria and Cyprus, Laura serves as Assistant Caretaker of the TWR Lodge welcoming staff and guests visiting...
Administrative,
Marketing,
Global
Tyler and Jennifer were married in 2015 and spent their first couple years of marriage in Oregon before they relocated to North...
Global,
Leadership,
Marketing
The Detwilers have been with TWR since September 1982 serving in Eswatini (Swaziland), Monaco, the Netherlands and the U.S....
Administrative,
Finance,
Global
For the past four decades, God has taken us on a journey serving in Christian radio. Our heart is to see every person on earth...
Global,
Leadership
Hi, I'm Kelly! After I graduated from Cedarville University with a degree in Broadcasting and Digital Media, I served as a...
A-V Production,
Global
Andrew serves as adaptation coordinator for TWR MOTION, our film ministry.
A-V Production,
Global