NOVAH creates radio dramas that prevent domestic abuse in East Africa. Our flagship program Twubakane airs in prime time across Rwanda, reaching couples through serialized storytelling designed to shift the norms and behaviors that sustain gender-based violence.
The dramas follow familiar characters navigating the same tensions listeners face at home, such as conflict over money, decisions made without consultation, pressure from family and community. Hearing those characters work things through together, listeners begin to imagine new possibilities for their own relationships. Reflection prompts after each episode invite couples to talk and try small changes.
Over time, couples communicate better, share decisions, and resolve conflict without violence. Women feel more empowered to seek help. Communities shift too, becoming less tolerant of abuse and more supportive of women who speak up.