Taiwan's Empowering Swaziland Women's Program Wins Revival Radio First Gracie Award

By Central News Agency Reporter Liao Han-yuan, New York, June 16

Revival Radio's program "They Shine Brightly: The Light of the Eswatini Women's Microenterprise Program" has won the non-English category at the 51st Gracie Awards. Host Chen Tzu-ming and Station Director Li Shu-hui attended the award ceremony in New York, amplifying Taiwan's voice on the global stage.

The Gracie Awards, established by the Alliance for Women in Media Foundation (AWM) in the United States, honor outstanding achievements in radio, television, and digital media created by, for, or about women. Since 1975, the awards have annually recognized female media professionals and content that highlights women's stories and contributions.

The award-winning program, aired in October last year on Revival Radio's "Taipei and the World in Dialogue," was inspired by the International Cooperation and Development Fund (ICDF) of Taiwan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which supports a women's microenterprise development program in the friendly nation of Eswatini. The program shares inspiring stories of local women transforming their lives through entrepreneurship, ultimately triumphing over competitors to win the non-English category. This marks Revival Radio's first major international accolade.

Chen Tzu-ming and Li Shu-hui attended the ceremony in New York and engaged with international media professionals, exchanging insights on the experiences and challenges of female media creators.

At a press conference held at the Taipei Cultural Center in New York, Chen emphasized that media's power lies in its ability to move people. She noted that Taiwan, having developed successfully, now has the capacity to help others. Hosting "Taipei and the World in Dialogue" for 14 years, her focus has been on international exchange—how the world engages with Taiwan and how Taiwan contributes globally through soft power.

She recalled seeing news two years ago about Swazi women receiving support and learning new skills, which immediately reminded her of Taiwan's own history. "Sixty years ago, Taiwan struggled economically but rose through education, care, and aid. Today, the Republic of China helping the world makes perfect sense," she said.

Chen highlighted that local women earning income through dragon fruit farming and poultry raising have transformed their communities—husbands now help at home, and neighbors find jobs in the orchards. However, she stressed the need for stronger marketing networks in Eswatini and greater government attention.

Li Shu-hui expressed her hope to showcase Taiwan's cultural depth and use radio to introduce its international cooperation efforts and active development in allied nations, ensuring the world sees and hears Taiwan.

She acknowledged the challenges: interviewees' limited English proficiency and long-distance coordination required overcoming technical and time-zone barriers. "We did everything possible and overcame the difficulties we should," she said.

Li emphasized that Taiwan's society allows women to achieve status and recognition through dedication and effort. Attending the Gracie Awards, she was inspired by women creating content on women's issues, identifying and solving problems. "Both achievements and unresolved challenges should be reflected through media. It's deeply gratifying to see women gaining recognition in the media field," she concluded. (Edited by Tien Jui-hua) 1150617

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