What we do
RNW Media focuses both on engaging young people – primarily in the digital space – and influencing the societies of young people. Our approach is based on continuous innovation applying state of the art media tools and methods.
User centered, data driven
We use user research and data from our digital communities and from research and surveys to gather and produce insights into the behaviour, mindset and needs of young people. Those insights are then used for influencing the societies we are operating in.
Aspirational
We work in fragile states and countries where human rights are under threat from authoritarian governments, countries where armed conflict is common and rule of law weak. These countries also have large young populations and we believe young people are the key to bringing about change. Rather than focus on young people’s frustrations we focus on their aspirations – their desire to shape the societies they live in and live fulfilling lives.
Global reach
RNW Media has three programmes. Two are thematic: Love Matters covering sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), and Citizens’ Voice covering social cohesion and inclusive governance (SCIG). These linked themes adress the issues that most deeply affect young people in both their public and their private lives. The third programme, RNTC Media Training, focuses on capacity building – offering concrete steps for young media-makers to turn aspirations into realities.
Our positive, aspirational, and rights- and evidence-based approach works. RNW Media has achieved a reach that goes way beyond that of regular NGOs. Since 2012, the total number of young people we’ve met on our online platforms has grown to 45 million, and that figure is increasing exponentially.
Youth first
Driving all our work are the specific needs of young people themselves – in all their variety. We listen to them directly and meet them where they are in terms of their key issues, language, technology and online access. In order to do this, we first surface and map young people’s needs within our two thematic areas. Once we have gathered this information via both online and offline research, we analyse, manage and process it to optimise our projects and support our impact.
Meanwhile, we develop strategies that can be shared, replicated, applied to local conditions and then scaled – to build ever larger and more inclusive communities. Our ultimate aim for our projects is that they become sustainable and be handed over to partners in the target countries.
Innovative and aspirational
Our innovative approach represents positive social change happening now. Young people dreaming of escape from discrimination or gender-based violence, dreaming of freedom to make their own safe decisions about love and sex, dreaming of a better economic future and real political choices. With RNW Media, young people are turning dreams into realistic aspirations.
And it all begins with making informed choices – both in the bedroom and once you step outside.
Citizens’ Voice
Grounded in Social Cohesion and Inclusive Governance (SCIG), Citizens’ Voice facilitates young people to become the citizen they want to be, in the society they want to live in. The programme offers them tools to come together and participate in critical and creative ways to make change happen.
Love Matters
Focusing on Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights (SRHR), the Love Matters programme is a global leader in delivering information and media on safe and satisfying sex to 18 to 30 year-olds in areas where information on SRHR is censored or taboo.
RNTC training centre
With 50 years of expertise, our RNTC Media Training programme provides training to professional and citizen journalists, content creators, and others who wish to hone their oral, video or written communications skills for change.
Statistics
We use data to increase our engagement with young people. These data are for the first 9 months of 2018:
41.5 million
visits
6.3 million
social interactions
8.7 million
fans
35
platforms
Want to help amplify the voices of young people?
Are you enthusiastic about helping young people build more inclusive societies?
Please contact us to explore partnership.
Certification
