The mobile application of the online station Radio Patrin was officially launched. This can be downloaded from Google Play and is active only for android devices. The radio station can be listened to on the computer as well, through www.radiopatrin.md.
In a news conference at IPN, Radio Patrin founder Victorina Luca said the platform is designed to promote the rights of the Romani women, to encourage civic activism and leaderism among representatives of this community. The mobile application of Radio Patrin has been specially designed for Roma ethnics and civic activists. Since 2016, when the radio station was launched, the number of young Romanies who became involved in community life has increased. The daily audience of the station is of about 7,000 listeners.
Elena Sârbu, editor-in-chief of Radio Patrin, said the subjects discussed in the station’s programs are meant to encourage particularly the Romani women to become involved in community life. “We want the women to become involved at any level, to enjoy opportunities to develop as personalities involved in the life of society and to hold public posts. The Romani women are ignored by political parties and politicians. For these reasons, they have small chances to get a public post,” she noted.
Eugenia Iurco, country manager of the Women’s Democracy Network, said Radio Patrin promotes leaderism among Romani women. “We aim to encourage as many Romani women as possible to run in the local elections and the parliamentary ones,” she stated, referring to statistics showing that the illiteracy rate among Romani women aged between 16 and 24 is by 28% lower than among women of other ethnic groups.
Radio Patrin aims to diminish the stereotypes about the Roma community existing in society. Besides social programs, Radio Patrin broadcasts different genres of music, such as old traditional Romani music and contemporary music.
