GirlZ Off Mute: DW launches girl reporter series

The project "GirlZ Off Mute", funded by Germany’s Federal Foreign Office, gives the age group of 13 to 18-year-old girls and young women in Africa a voice: whether in Tanzania, Côte d'Ivoire, Gambia or Zimbabwe, the young journalists ask: Who says young women can’t be successful? Why do some of them have to do strangers' laundry instead of going to school? What is the Gambian first lady's understanding of gender and what about the right to period hygiene? Successful female entrepreneurs, women in top positions or in traditional male professions, who can serve as role models for young girls, are also portrayed in the new series.

The scope for a self-determined life is often narrow: traditions, hierarchies and patriarchal structures stand in the way of many African girls' and young women's ideas about life; they feel "muted" by their society.

"I am really impressed by the energy and seriousness with which the young reporters throw themselves into their work. The project already shows that this generation no longer wants to accept traditional gender roles, but wants to determine their own lives and improve their living conditions," says Claus Stäcker, Director of Programs for Africa at DW, about the new project.

Approximately 40 video reports and 30 radio and Facebook discussions in English, French, Kiswahili and Amharic are planned till the end of the year.

Deutsche Welle's programs reach 78 million users in sub-Saharan Africa every week, including 49 million via radio.