It has been about seven weeks since Radio Yemen Times started its FM broadcast on 88.8. Despite the short duration, it is amazing how much outreach the radio has within the capital city, where the radio station is currently broadcasting.

The calls, emails and Facebook entries are amazing. We have received a lot of feedback personally on the programs, and a lot of people have shown interest in participating.

Radio Yemen Times is the Republic of Yemen’s first independent community radio and derives its credibility from its mother organization with twenty years of independence, Yemen Times.

There are many popular programs, and we have just started. The political and youth programs and the daily morning show are the most popular programs.

Our reporters are trained inside and outside the country, and there is more training to come. Our ambition is to improve media professionalism in radio broadcasting—just like we did in print. In fact, soon, Radio Yemen Times will provide opportunities for Yemenis who are interested in radio to experiment on air through our volunteers segment. This will create interest in radio broadcasting and improve the awareness of media importance as well as provide Yemenis—especially youth and women—with an outlet they never dreamed of before.

Having an impact on the citizens of Yemen is amazing and dangerous in the same time. Because of the illiteracy rate—half the population can’t read—radio remains the single most important mass communication tool that can be used to influence and create public opinion. Therefore, it should and will be used to endorse the National Dialogue, peace building and conflict resolution in the country.

Radio Yemen Times will be used to extend Yemen Times’ mission—promoting democracy, freedoms and human rights—to the airwaves. Principles of inclusion, fighting discrimination and encouraging tolerance are on top of our list.

The need for an independent, credible radio station was so urgent that when we started broadcasting, it was like a rescue boat for all those who wanted to be heard but couldn’t find a medium and for those who wanted information from a trusted source.

There is much more to come, and we promise to create many new, amazing programs and new, interesting sessions of our existing shows. Follow us in Sana’a on 88.8 FM, online at www.radioyementimes.com or on Twitter at @RadioYemenTimes.