THE PLATFORM

  By Raphael Banda ZANEC Press Statement on the International Day of the Girl Child 11 th October. 2023 Zambia National Education Coalition (ZANEC) is pleased to join the rest of the world in commemorating the International Day of the Girl Child which falls on 11 th October. This international commemoration gives us the opportunity to reflect on our achievements and shortcomings in addressing the challenges that girls are facing in realizing their right to education. The theme for this year is “ Invest in Girls’ Rights: Our Leadership, Our well-being” .   Investment in girls and women spurs productivity and economic growth in any given society. Girls and women's participation in education and leadership positions is essential to achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030 in Zambia. Moreover, women and girls represent more than half of the country’s population and therefore their full participation in the economy can increase our development prospects.  

  The Role of Radio in Sustainable Development. Community Radio plays a key role in Sustainable Development as it provides a platform for local voices to decide their own future. In the developing and developed world, radio gives information access by bridging the information gap. Besides, radio helps in the preservation of local customs and languages which contributes to long-term sustainable cultural heritage safeguarding. In the wake of climate change, radio promotes the sustainable practices, such as promoting environmentally sustainable agricultural and resource management approaches. Radio also promotes social cohesion as it advances community togetherness, communication, and inclusivity. On disaster response communities receive timely weather and agricultural information before and after the rainy season. In the education sector, communities and schools will learn about school feeding programmes,re-entry policy and adequate desks in schools and their challenges. Look