Sawt Al Karak FM Min Jamiat Mutah is being established with the support of USAID, as part of the Jordan Media Strengthening Programme (JMSP).

The project consists of a broadcast studio at Mutah University and a radio production unit located at the Princess Basma Community Development Centre in Mutah village - one of 50 community development centres established by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD) across the Kingdom.

"The radio will allow the people of Karak to speak and to be heard. We hope it will be an effective tool for better communication and education, which will all feed in positive community development," said Amal Sarayrah, rural leader at the centre.

Volunteers from Mutah University and the JOHUD centre will provide the station with programmes tackling local community issues, according to a statement released by the JMSP.

Some 30 volunteers, both students and citizens, are being trained on radio production and broadcasting.

The statement quoted Mutah University President Abdul Rahim Hneiti as saying that "the establishment of the radio station reflects the university's commitment to empower both its students as well as the community at large, providing learning opportunities and contributing to a social environment conducive to positive change."

Sawt Al Karak will join a "news syndicate" established with the support of JMSP and consisting of six local radio stations exchanging nationwide news and reports.

The only other local radio station in southern Jordan is Sawt Al Janub from Maan, which is also part of the news syndicate.

The JMSP has been working for the past three years to build professionalism among journalists, foster local media and improve the enabling environment for independent media.