It’s a very hot and dusty mid-day but nothing stops the participants of the Finote Birhan discussion group in Mekelle (Tigray) from gathering in the old gym they use as their meeting venue. The group gathers weekly to listen to episodes of the Betengna radio diaries and discuss what they heard over coffee and popcorn. This week, the facilitator stands up to apologize that there is no electricity but the group doesn’t mind. They want to continue their discussion about Hiwot Mamo’s unplanned pregnancy from last week’s episode.

Hiwot Mamo is one of the 14 people living with HIV (PLWH) that were featured on Betengna as radio ‘diarists’. Diarists share intimate details of their life beginning from their childhood until the present. Discussion groups gather to discuss what happens in the lives of these diarists and other HIV related issues. “We never leave until we settle a point or make a point” says one female participant.

During this discussion, they quiz each other about birth control myths and vividly share their own personal experiences. Betengna encourages listeners, not only to relate to the diarists but also to think analytically about their own situation and increase their awareness and utilization of different health services. It also allows participants to understand the broader implications of living in a community affected by HIV and AIDS. Since its first broadcast in October 2006 over 5000 people have called the program producers to tell them the changes it has brought to their lives, including being encouraged to test for HIV, overcoming fear of starting ART and believing in the benefits of openly communicating with their partners. And now, through listening discussion groups such as Finote Birhan, more and more people get to listen to the program at their leisure and internalize its full meaning over small talk.

Betengna has started being broadcast in Tigrigna, the spoken language in Tigray, but members of Finote Birhan say that they also enjoy listening to the older programs in groups. “Its better because we’re different people from different backgrounds, so we find more than one meaning to things and you learn to understand from different perspectives”, says another participant.

The lights come back and it’s almost been an hour since the discussion started. But none of them pay heed as they continue to plough through their discussion guide.

The Radio Diaries are produced by the National AIDS Resource Center (ARC) and Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health/Center for Communication Programs (CCP) and in collaboration with the National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office (HAPCO) with technical assistance from Internews Network-Ethiopia. Funding is provided by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) through the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).