DW-WORLD.DE: Why do you find it important to support educational initiatives in Africa?

Célia Okoyino da Mbabi: Well, I think there is a huge potential in Africa, but they don’t have the same opportunities that we have here in Europe. That is why I think it is very important to give young Africans the chance to absorb all kinds of information, and in doing so, to support their proper learning.

What role can media play in that?

Radio is everywhere and can be accessed by everyone; you listen to it in a community and I so think it is a brilliant medium to reach a broad audience. But also today young people like me spend a lot of time using the internet.

What is your opinion on Deutsche Welle’s “Learning by Ear”?

I think Learning by Ear is a very good project, especially because the authors are Africans themselves and know the reality they are writing about. It is not something like “we are sitting in Europe writing a story about Africa”, no, the African authors know what is going on in their region. That’s why I like this project and that is why I think it has a close tie to reality – because it is done by Africans.

Interview: Susanne Fuchs/Katrin Ogunsade

Editor: Adrian Kriesch