Voice of Migrants Radio: Episode 3

African Media Association Malta is a new NGO bringing together African journalists who have come to Malta. The organisation has won start-up funding* for it's first project “Somali Media Malta”.

The aim of the Project is to bring information to African immigrants in Malta, such as news, current affairs, information how to live in Malta, music and culture etc. The team has been formed by professional journalists who escaped persecution in Somalia to set up new life in Europe, and have gained legal status here.

In the short term the plan is to set up a website and produce radio programmes to broadcast in Somali language on internet based Blog Talk Radio (or similar), and any Community Radio Network willing to co-operate. Somali nationals are the largest African immigrant group in Malta.

Longer term, other languages will be added.

Many immigrants from Africa are unaware of the One Radio show for them, Connect Africa, mostly playing African music, and in English language. That is the only radio broadcast currently in Malta for immigrants, broadcast weekly on Thursday evenings at 8 pm on 92.7 FM, on-line streaming at www.one.com.mt 92.7, and with podcast links to past shows – find Connect Africa Radio on Facebook.

One objective is to seek consent of Malta Government and Agencies to enable new arrivals in Detention Centres, and those who have been processed and are in Open Centres, to be able to hear information in Somali language from the time of arrival in Malta. There is no such service at present and many do not speak English or Maltese on arrival.

The young team are all under 27years old, as are most of the African immigrants in Malta.

* EEA and Norway Grant Funding administered by SOS Malta NGO.