New Low German programs launched
Winnipeg, Man. |
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Helen and Jacob Funk, producers of new Low German programs, with Dan Klaue (front), recording engineer. |
Two new programs in the Low German language were launched by Family Life Network (FLN) in April. One is a program for children that offers songs and a dramatised story, called “Come, Look!” (Komm Kjikje!). The other is a cooking show for women called “With Helen in the Kitchen” (Met Helen en de Käakj).
FLN is producing the programs in response to a plea from Trans World Radio (TWR) in Bolivia. “Our radio station is flooded with callers from the Low German-speaking colonies,” report Jake and Dorothy Fehr of TWR. “Many are poor, addicted to alcohol and drugs, sexually broken . . . Suicide is rampant . . . Mennonites aren’t supposed to own radios but many have one and listen faithfully. . . . We urgently need programs for children and for women.”
Both new programs are produced by Helen and Jacob Funk (FLN German producer) with the help of FLN recording engineer, Dan Klaue, who holds a degree in linguistics and also speaks Low German. Helen, a long-time professional cook, hosts both programs and says, “My heart just went out to those kids and women! I’m excited yet overwhelmed. I’ve been fasting and praying.” There’s no fasting, though, on the program, recorded on site in her Winnipeg kitchen.
HCJB Radio in Ecuador responded to the pilot of the children’s program with, “This is exactly what we need for our listeners!” A Low German station in Aylmer, Ont. wrote, “We aired Met Helen en de Kjäakj for the first time and that same day 10 people called to say they loved the program and asked us to play it again!”
Family Life Network is a media agency affiliated with the Manitoba MB Conference. It produces media in 7 languages on over 900 media outlets worldwide.
—Dorothy Siebert, FLN
Estimates of Low German-speaking peoples:
- 200,000 Germany
- 100,000 Russia & Kazakhstan
- 90,000 Canada
- 50,000 Mexico
- 50,000 Bolivia
- 38,000 Paraguay
- 10,000 USA
- 6,000 Belize
- 6,000 Brazil
Source: FLN and Ethnologue.com |
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