Working closely with Kenya Wildlife Service (KWS), and in partnership with RadioActive UK we are working to set up a radio station to broadcast in the Tsavo Conservation Area.
We have named the station Radio Tsavo.
The mobile station, designed by Max Graef and Ben Pearson, has been purchased and was exhibited by RadioActive in London in May 2009 at SHINE09, as it is a new and unique way to bring radio to rural people. click here to see more.
This will travel in our Land Rover to reach the most remote areas.
We are seeking funding for a large radio mast to be located on the top of the Chyulu Hills that will cover a large broadcast area. In areas of low literacy, poor roads, no electricity, no newspapers, televisions, telephones or internet, where small populations are scattered in isolated corners, radio is the most effective means of reaching people.
Radio Tsavo will be overseen by Amara and the KWS, and will include locally produced programs. The intention of the station is to share knowledge about the environment, local conservation issues, women’s issues and health and agriculture information, and to bring far flung communities into contact with one another, sharing experiences and information to improve the lives of all the inhabitants. We will have sms/text message call-in programs, radio plays, music and entertainment as well as informational programming. It is a first-of-a-kind radio station planned to considerably broaden our outreach in this critical area.
Due to lack of education, it is difficult for the farmers to see the importance of ensuring the livelihood of the quickly diminishing populations of wild animals, which include elephants, lions, big cats, and all the antelope species. There are ways in which the existence of these animals can help support the people. This is an area that Amara is also working on: promoting tourism that channels money back into the communities. Without the existence of wild animals in the area, tourism will dry up. If we do not act soon, these species will become extinct.
We have:
- Purchased all of the equipment
- Held a workshop with RadioActive UK in Tsavo West. This included representatives from KWS, local communities, and all the Amara staff and included technical and programming training. Every attendee completed the training very excited about the upcoming Station.
- Identified a good location for the permanent station near Tsavo West with a tower on top of the Chyulu Hills
- Gotten an approved Memorandum of Understanding with KWS
- Begun surveying people about content
- Prepared a campaign working with Jesse Hardman a radio and video journalist in New York City soon to be launched on Kickstarter.com to fund the full Station and Tower
We are very excited about this project and it’s ability to further our goals for conservation in Kenya!
[...read updates on Radio Tsavo]
