Radio MENQ, an Internet radio station created by Armenian blind and visually impaired individuals, has been selected as a World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Prizes 2017 Champion. The project was one of 345 initiatives nominated. Only 90 nominees were selected as Champions, and of the 1.1 million ballots cast, Radio MENQ was among the top five most voted-for media projects. Radio MENQ will be awarded with a Champion certificate from the United Nations’ International Telecommunication Union (ITU) Secretary-General during a special ceremony on Tuesday, 13 June. During that ceremony, WSIS Prizes, which honor outstanding projects that leverage the power of information and communication technology (ICT) to accelerate socio-economic development, will be awarded to 18 Champions.
Radio MENQ was founded from the idea that an Internet radio station would be the greatest opportunity to help the blind and visually impaired. Its first recording took place in March 2016 and was national news in Armenia. It is supported by the Internet Society’s Beyond the Net funding program, which gives everyone the chance to make a positive difference and to join the Internet Society in its mission to provide open, secure internet access for all.