How about swapping the Archers and Ambridge for a barber's shop in the rural Afghan village of Bar Killi? 

Three times a week almost 14 million people across Afghanistan tune into the radio soap opera New Home, New Life – funded by the FCO and produced by BBC World Service Trust as part of its Afghan Education Projects (AEP).

Dealing with Afghan issues

Like its British counterparts, New Home, New Life, deals with issues important to Afghans, weaving them into cliff-hanger stories.  But rather than adultery, problem teenagers and pub quarrels, the Afghan soap’s storylines are more about raising awareness about HIV and Aids, gender equality, conflict resolution and personal hygiene. 

One recent storyline was about unexploded mines – a popular character, Jandad, lost his leg stepping on one. With the help of family and friends he raised enough money to have an artificial leg fitted. He has now regained his old confidence and  works as a tailor in the village.  Interestingly, United Nations research has since identified a rise in mine awareness amongst listeners.

Surviving the Taliban

The soap has been running for fourteen years and amazingly survived the Taliban regime. Although much art and media suffered during this period, the overwhelming view is that to have shut down such an enormously popular  radio soap would have been extremely counter-productive.  It’s not only broadcast by the BBC World Service Afghan Stream but also re-transmitted by Radio Television Afghanistan (RTA) and other FM stations.

AEP also produce a comic cartoon version of the show with simple captions which summarise storylines.  The idea is that basic reading material helps develop literacy and numeracy skills in children and adults who've had little education.  

Radio’s popularity

Radio is vitally important to Afghans.  Only 39 percent of households have a TV, but 83 per cent own a working radio.  It’s the main source of information – particularly for those living in remote rural areas, where New Home New Life is especially popular.  Listeners there identify with the problems and concerns of the fictional villagers and it's here that the messages about hygiene and raising livestock have most resonance.

Solving problems

A recent BBC survey found that 83 per cent of listeners agreed that listening to NHNL helped them to solve problems and made them feel closer to their fellow-Afghans. 

So New Home, New Life not only entertains millions of listeners each week but also plays an important role in re-building and re-structuring of Afghan society.

Read more about our work in Afghanistan.