Stories have always had the power to reignite passion. They spark hope, heal wounds, and give us courage to dream again. But for many young girls growing up in underserved communities, access to such stories is rare. They don’t often have women in their lives who openly share their struggles and victories. Yet, in those same communities, one thing is certain, radio is always on. Fathers gather around it, uncles tune in as they work, and girls listen quietly on small phones that can catch FM signals.
It is into this space that the Beyond Her Odds Show, a programme hosted by Raquel Kasham Daniel under the Beyond Her Odds Initiative, a project of Beyond the Classroom Foundation (BTCF), has stepped. Week after week, the show has carried the voices of women whose lives remind us that no matter the odds, there is always another chance, another path, another flame waiting to be lit.
On the show, listeners have heard from a young woman who once worked as a house help, but who today stands on global platforms as a voice for girls. They have listened to another who, divorced just seven months into her marriage while carrying her first child, rebuilt her life and now helps other women find healing too.
They have heard the courage of a mother who walked away from domestic abuse with her child, the determination of a young woman who had to drop out of school but refused to let her education define her worth, and the strength of one who overcame substance abuse to become a beacon of light for others still struggling. Even the story of a woman who, abused and left to raise a child 25 years ago, now leads with dignity and influence has echoed across the airwaves, planting seeds of resilience in every girl listening.
These are not just interviews. They are sparks. They are reminders that pain can be turned into power, that broken dreams can be rebuilt, and that the voices of women can reignite the passion in girls who may have thought all hope was lost.
The Beyond Her Odds Show airing on EaglesFM 102.3 Abuja, is more than a radio show. It is growing into a podcast, YouTube, and even a curricullum to be used for girls in school clubs, ensuring these life-changing stories travel farther. And this October, the journey continues with the Beyond Her Odds Conference and Awards, celebrating women who have gone beyond their odds to inspire this generation.
The Initiative is proudly supported by the Igniting Girls and Grassroots Organizations for Transformative and Inclusive Education (IGNITE) Consortium, comprising the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Urgent Action Fund–Africa (UAF Africa), and the René Moawad Foundation, and funded by the Agence Française de Développement (AFD).
