Combatting Ignorance

                            

When we first started distributing wind-up radios to orphaned children in Rwanda in 1999, a common response was that our radios helped to combat ignorance and ease isolation. In May, when we launched our Prime radio, the response was the same.

Children who head households, as well as at-risk widow headed-families are hungry for information they can trust that will help them learn and grow. They want to listen to the news and practical programmes that will support their personal development, impact behavior change (in relation to sexual and reproductive health), inform on health issues like family planning and HIV/AIDS and peace and reconciliation.

Beneficiaries, who are identified by our local partner organisations, are trained in the use and care of the Prime as well as how to become listening group leaders. They are the responsible ‘guardians’ of the radios on behalf of their family and of their neighbours. Over the years in Rwanda we’ve seen that roughly 20 listeners share our radios, although many more might gather to hear an important announcement or programme.

Lifeline Energy’s project manager, Chhavi Sharma, who took part in the distributions said, “people told me that the radios would help educate them in taking care of their children’s well being, register them at birth, keep track of school holidays and vaccination schedules. In addition, they felt that the radio would play an important role in helping them reconcile with their neighbours, to learn how to live together, to form farming cooperatives, raise livestock, protect the environment and keep abreast of government policies. All this helps build a sense of community. People realize they that there are many others facing the same situation.”

The Prime’s bright LED light will decrease the use of hazardous candles and kerosene, enabling people to see at night. To the very poorest, even a candle or a tablespoon of kerosene is beyond their daily reach. Children were particularly excited about being able to see well to study.

The radios were distributed in collaboration with our long-standing partner organisations, Care International, Fair Children Youth Foundation and Trust and Care in Bugesera, Kamonyi, Kicukiro, Musanze and Rwamagana districts. This is the third donation from of a Spanish family foundation in support of our Rwanda Project Muraho.

The Prime – which can be listened to by up to 60 users at a time - is Lifeline Energy’s next generation of power independent, multi-band radio thoughtfully designed and developed to provide 24/7 listening access - anytime, anywhere.

Lifeline Energy has been working in Rwanda since 1999 and has successfully distributed more than 16,000 power independent radios benefitting an estimated 320,000 vulnerable children, widows and families living with HIV/AIDS. The Prime replaces our Lifeline radio.

Prime radios are being used in various African countries.

Please click here if you would like to support this long-standing and important initiative.

Here’s what some of the recipients had to say:

Gerard, 21, lives alone as his family is deceased. He has heard about financial literacy programmes on the radio and is really excited to listen to them on the Prime radio that he received. He is eager to know how banks function and when he can open his first savings account. He hopes to save at least RWF 1,000 per month (or $1.60) by using the LED light on the radio instead of buying kerosene. This might not seem like a lot of money, but it is to Gerard.

Laurence - a widow with two children aged 14 and 15 - says she is "overjoyed" with her radio. Her children will stay home to listen to the programmes instead of roaming about, which will bring together and unite their family as a result. They will be informed about HIV/AIDS protection and children’s rights. They will invite their friends to listen to the radio with them and will share this knowledge with other people in their community.

For Olivia, whose husband died in the 1994 genocide, the Prime radio comes as a godsend. She is too poor to afford school for her six children and the radio will aid personal development and children’s education. She says they will feel like they have company and are no longer alone.