On 29th and 30th of April 2020, IMVF and its partners ADWAC and United Purpose delivered radio equipment – microphones, digital recorders, microphone stands, mixers, inverters, and batteries – to 5 community radio stations in rural areas of The Gambia.
The support is provided through the Tekki Fii Project (Make it in The Gambia), funded by the European Union. Tekki Fii is working together with the community radios of Kerewan and Farafenni (NBR), Bansang and Brikama Ba (CRR) and Soma (LRR) to boost their capacity as key information and mobilisation channels.
The Manager of Soma Community Radio, Seedy Dampha, who doubled as the Public relation officer for the Network of Community Radios, expressed happiness and satisfaction in receiving the radio equipment supported.
“These materials will ease our work, they are of high standards and quality, now our staff will be more comfortable doing their work because everything is now in order”, Dampha said.
“This gesture is timely especially within the current framework of the pandemic associated to the Coronavirus, since the best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. With this equipment, we are now having better output, that means we will reach out to more people and send out the messages in line with Ministry of Health” he added.
He concluded by thanking IMVF and partners and promised to take proper use of the radio materials.
Maimuna Bandeh, the Manager of Bansang Community Radio, also said the materials will go a long way in helping them do their work better, especially the batteries and inverter:
“Power has always been one of our biggest challenges but with the availability of these batteries even with a power cut we will continue transmitting for hours without any problem” she expressed.
Community radio broadcasting is regarded as one of the most effective means of information dissemination and knowledge spreading in rural Gambia. These platforms are also used as a means for youth to provide civic education and talk about economic opportunities in the country.
The Youths of North Bank were among the first to use the new equipment as part of the on-going prevention campaign on COVID-19, also supported by the Tekki Fii project.
The handover in Kerewan Community Radio, was graced with the presence of the Governor of North Bank Region, highlighting the relevance of the Community Radios and of the support provided by Tekki Fii.
