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By Libya Herald reporter.
Benghazi, 23 May 2017:
Amid the chaos of war in Benghazi, a group of young women have taken a major step to ensure that female voices and views are heard.
“Your Excellency” or “Maa’lieky” in Arabic, is a radio programme featuring women who have stood up to the pressures and problems people are experiencing at this difficult time in Libya’s history.
Success stories at all levels are narrated by women in the business world, in marketing, blogging, media – and even cooking. With around 10,000 listeners in Benghazi, the programme started broadcasting on Libya FM 88.5 on the 1 April this year.
Wafa’a Alshrief is the host of the show. She said she was enthusiastic about the idea of encouraging women from different age groups to share their stories on-air.
The first series of the programme has been welcomed a large variety of women.
The first guest was Mabrouka Hadia, who is one of the oldest nurses in Libya. She talked about practicing in the profession for 44 years, and her passion for it and and helping others.
It has also heard the voice of Nehal al-Amami, the first female blogger in Libya who specialises in perfumes and accessories. Perfumes are hardly now but to blog about them is something new and unusual in the typically conservative Libyan society.
Wafa’a hopes that her listeners in Benghazi will continue to expand more and more. She also believes that all women have an innate confidence and determination to create their own success stories.
Audience reaction has been positive. One listener said she thought the idea was “silly” at first. However, now she admits “it makes me proud of what we’ve accomplished as females in Libya”.
Another said it was showing the world how wrong all the clichés about Libyan women were.
“I think it’s a great programme and its opens a new door for women in Benghazi,” another listener added.
