Originally posted on International Telecommunications Union, November 2001 www.itu.int

This paper has been submitted by the Freeplay Foundation, a UK-registered not-for-profit organisation that promotes the use of wind-up or solar power as a sustainable source of power generation in developing communities. The Freeplay Foundation works with non-governmental organizations and governments to bring sustainable energy solutions to radio education projects and programmes worldwide. The foundation works across many sectors including health, language instruction, voter education, agricultural assistance and emergency and relief communications. Sponsored by Freeplay Energy Group, the foundation is a separate organisation with its own Board of Trustees. The Freeplay Foundation does not sell radios, but rather seeks to create a broader profile for radio education.

	Disaster in Mozambique Between January and April 2000 Mozambique experienced the worst floods in its history. Nearly 2 million people were affected, with 500,000 displaced and nearly 700 fatalities. Around 10% of the country's agricultural land was damaged, 200,000 cattle were lost and much of the rural infrastructure in southern Mozambique was either damaged or destroyed.
Transportation of Freeplay radios to the village of Josina Machel, which was cut off by the floods

In emergency and relief situations such as this, the provision of information is vital. Governments need to reach as many people as possible to keep them informed of information critical to their safety, security, health and even survival.

Radio is the most cost- efficient and effective way to reach a critical mass of people. It is estimated that radio enjoys about 30% ownership in Mozambique, but that among the displaced families few managed to salvage their radios during the deluge.

When the flooding started, the Freeplay Foundation donated 200 Freeplay radios, which are powered by solar or wind-up technology, to the UNDP. In turn, the UNDP gave them to the National Institute for Disaster Management (INGC) for distribution to some of the first flood ravaged communities. The Freeplay Foundation's Executive Director, Kristine Pearson, received an official written request from the government of Mozambique to secure Freeplay radios for the displaced population and the foundation committed itself to doing so.

Freeplay Technology

Wind-up technology consists of a textured carbon steel spring that drives a DC generator through transmission. Sixty turns of the handle will result in playtime of roughly one hour (depending on volume). The radio also has solar capacity using a thin-film solar panel which has an output of 3.0V 50mA.

From the range of the four Freeplay wind-up radios, the global short wave (GSW) was chosen for Mozambique as it is the strongest and most robust product. It is powered by both solar and wind up technology, has speakers large enough to be used for outdoor and group listening and receives transmissions on AM, FM and SW.

Unlike the first Freeplay model, called the FPR1, the GSW has a built-in mechanism to prevent the user from winding the handle in the wrong direction and thereby breaking the radio. It is also housed in a sturdy matt casing, making the radio durable and robust. Users are encouraged to store the radios in the original plastic bags on a cardboard box to keep them safe from dust and water, which can be problematic in rural Mozambique.

Six-Month Communications Initiative

Early in March, Media Action International (MAI), a Geneva-based media NGO, conducted a rapid communication assessment of the displaced population on behalf of DFID. They concluded that on-going information and communication was critical and that radio was the most effective way to reach the most people. In the immediate term people needed information on weather, health issues, government policy toward the displaced, missing family members, the activities of the aid community, the location of land mines and the disposal of carcasses. In the medium term people would need advice on logistics, compensation, lost document replacement, continued health concerns, and agricultural assistance.

MAI submitted a proposal recommending that DFID fund a comprehensive six-month communications initiative, to which the latter agreed. The initiative covered the cost of a daily 30-minute programme targeted specifically to the needs of the displaced population. The programme would be aired in the evening and repeated in the morning, when reception is better on Radio Mozambique. The initiative also included transmitters to enhance the broadcasts in rural areas and the purchase of 2320 Freeplay wind-up radios for distribution in the worst-hit areas.

Realising that 2320 radios would be insufficient for the number of communities in need, the Freeplay Foundation approached the United Methodist Church (UMC) to fund an additional 4000 Freeplay wind-up radios. Although the UMC had already been very active in flood relief efforts throughout the emergency, they recognised the importance of communication and information and agreed to the request. In addition, the Freeplay Foundation was able to raise a further 600 radios from Bob Crane of Fortuna, California. In total, 7150 Freeplay wind-up radios would be distributed for communal use as part of emergency relief efforts.

Reaching the Displaced

The initial radios were received in early February 2000 and were distributed in the same month. The balance of radios reached Maputo in April and are currently being distributed by entities such as UNICEF, the United Methodist Church, the Mozambican NGO Rebuilding Hope and World Vision. Distribution has been slowed by the poor condition of many roads in rural areas, which makes it difficult for trucks to reach the displaced communities. Programming began on Radio Mozambique on the second of April and will terminate after six months, unless additional funding is secured to extend the programme.

Women in the village of Josina Machel listening to radio broadcasts

 

The distribution of radios focused mainly on the displaced communities in the Southern Mozambican provinces of Maputo, Gaza, Inhambane, Manica and Sofala. These provinces were the most severely impacted by the floods. The radios were distributed to community leaders, women's organisations, church groups, health workers, teachers and other community groups free of charge.

Decals were placed on the radios indicating, in Portuguese, the source of the donation and the fact that the radio was for "community use and not for resale." A laminated, cartoon-based instruction sheet, developed by the Freeplay Foundation in collaboration with a Mozambican cartoonist, accompanied the radio. One side depicted the use and care of the radio, while the other showed the radios'  use in community settings. To contend with breakages, Freeplay Energy Group will send one of its engineers to provide training for local technicians in the repair of the Freeplay wind-up radio.

The Freeplay Foundation played a facilitation rather than an implementation role in this project. It secured donations for the project, managed the shipment of product from the USA to Mozambique by air and road, developed the instruction cartoon in co-operation with the Mozambican cartoonist, developed the decals for the radios and informed the distribution process.