Moos, Sawmiet
Presenter Daybreaker (6-7am);Traffic reporter forBreakfast Beat & Drivetime, technician
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?I have no idea. One day I just found myself here without even realizing it
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?The uniqueness of the place – it’s like any media business, but our listeners are just like us. So we relate to each other so much better in order to serve them.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?I am able to organize things quickly and I am quite creative
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?Surviving the million and one daily crisis at community radio – like the type of equipment, lack of finances and public perception about community radio being second rate.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:We went to do an outside broadcast once and the person we had to speak to tried to impress us by talking to someone on the line, without knowing that the phone had never been plugged in. We had to walk out so that we did not end up laughing in his face.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:When we linked up with Hamas leader, Abdul Aziz Rantissi, within hours after he surviving an assassination attempt last year. We scooped all other media on that story.
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Wallace, Jamiel
Presenter Breakfast Beat (7 – 9am)
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?I have been active in my community for years and saw this as the most logical way to promote the affairs of our community via the VOC Community Forum.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?Radio is a fascinating way to communicate with so many people. At the same time, it helps to keep me updated on what is happening in the world. And once the bug bit, it was hard to let go.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?I am a good listener and it is very useful if you are dealing with hard news issues where you are trying to find out what everyone’s angle is.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?I would love to involve more youth in radio. Unless we get them involved, the future of this medium will be questionable.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:One morning while rushing to VOC, I was forced to turn back halfway when I discovered that I had left my false teeth at home. Going on air without them would have been a nightmare.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:Once we took a reverse charges call on air just before midnight from a drug addict who had been tossed out by his parents. On this rainy night he just wanted to tell his parents that he loved and missed them. It touched me deeply because it dawned on me how powerful an impact radio had on people.
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Karaan, Munadia
Co-Presenter Open Line @ 9 (9 – 10am); co-presenter Saturday Live (Saturdays 7 – 10am)
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?My name means to call people and when I was asked to join VOC, I knew this was my chance to give meaning to my name and make a contribution to the development of my own community.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?The fact that there are still things here for me to accomplish. When that stops, I will know it is time to go.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?Apart from attracting trouble, I am good at coming up with new ideas to liven things up!
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?The ability to slow down and be patient - it kills me.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:I was about to leave the studio one day to go for a toilet break and found myself locked when the door got stuck. My colleagues thought it was hysterically funny. I did not dare laugh in case I caused a (wet) scandal!
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:Spearheading the Nadhir Arnold awareness campaign and being invited to see him the evening before he died. Also doing the live haj coverage in 2003 for VOC. Both experiences were more spiritually and professionally rewarding than anything else I have ever done.
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Laatoe, Ayesha
Presenter 10-to-12 (10 –12pm);
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?My heart has always been here since the beginning.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?The fact that I can make a difference in the community and be of use.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?Being a creative mom who can get herself out of any situation (I hope!)
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?I tend to stumble over my words if I get too excited.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:None that I would like to recall!
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:The best show I ever did was raising awareness on the polio campaign during the night. It felt like this awareness might have helped to make a difference to lots of listeners out there.
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Wallace, Jamiel
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:
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Appleby, Sulayla
Presenter Talk @ 2
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?Because my husband and sons actually thought I had something to offer and I was ready to give it a chance.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?The interaction with the public which proves to me that I am making a difference.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?My ability to talk to people and ask the right questions that will draw them out.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?Dealing with impatience and ignorance!
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:There have been so many over the years but I will maintain a graceful silence since in most instances, I was the cause of the hilarity!
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:Being part of the Nadhir Arnold awareness campaign. His sweet innocence and enthusiasm for life captured all of us. We all wanted to be the one to donate our marrow to him and we were all destroyed when he died.
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Carloo, Lutfia
Presenter Newsbeat Sports; producer Breakfast Beat
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?I had nothing better to do. No seriously, I desperately wanted to get back into the world of news, without moving outside of an Islamic environment.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?I believe in what I do. Every day is a challenge and I love what I do.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?I am a hard worker and I enjoy a challenge.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?It is always a challenge to come out of my shell and approach people to come on air. The rest is easy.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:I was reading the sports news once when due to a glitch, the technician suddenly played a burst of music in my ear that threw me completely off track and had everyone else in stitches. But being the trooper, I stumbled on.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:I will never forget my first interview on air. I was completely unprepared, but I surprised myself in the way I came through it. I never thought I had it in me.
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Dien, Safaa
Presenter Newsbeat & Jolly Juniors; producerDrivetime
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?Allah alone knows.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?As soon as I figured that out, I will be much wiser. More seriously, a sense of family.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?I am determined and have a nose for what works on air in production.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?Making contact with people that are usually unattainable and trying to break stories before anyone else does.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:Trying to issue an apology for a remark we made on air and bursting out laughing halfway, making it sound so much worse.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:When together with Reach for a Dream, colleague Wedaad Jappie and I made a little dying girl’s dream come true by giving her a bicycle. It was all the more meaningful because she died shortly after.
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Dramat, Nadia
Producer: 10-to-12 & Talk @ 2
WHY DID YOU JOIN VOC?Because there was a job available in sales and I applied.
WHAT KEEPS YOU HERE?The satisfaction of knowing that you are doing something useful for your community.
WHAT ARE YOUR STRENGTHS?Talking to children and convincing people to do things they often do not know they want to do.
WHAT ARE YOUR CHALLENGES?Planning public events and getting involved in outreach programs. I love those kind of challenges.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:The day Warda Sampson and I did Jobs & Swops a guest came into the studio and unknowingly sat down on a broken chair. We laughed so hard we had to be taken off air.
WHAT IS THE FUNNIEST THING THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED TO YOU ON AIR:The Mugamad Badee winter program – it was a chance to give back to underprivileged in Delft. It was an extremely emotional project which we pulled off in a matter of days.
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