On location: FM projects in Central Africa

Invisible Children supports FM radios across LRA affected areas in Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Central African Republic (CAR) and South Sudan. In addition to playing music, cultural and other community programs, these radios also broadcast “come home” messages encouraging LRA combatants to surrender. Last week I traveled to Bas-Uele, DRC, a densely forested and sparsely populated area in the DRC, to meet with community members about the possible installation of an FM radio in this region. We held several community meetings to discuss the needs of the population, the politics of the region as well as the community ownership of IC supported FM radios. The location identified for the radio is particularly appealing because of a large hill centrally located, which could emit “come home” programs long distances reaching as far as CAR and South Sudan.

- Contributed by Margaux Fitoussi, who partnered with Invisible Children as a UC Berkeley Judith Lee Stronach Baccalaureate fellow to improve the Early Warning Radio Network in northern DR Congo. In June 2012, Margaux transitioned to Project Associate at ICDRC working with FM radios in the Orientale Province of DR Congo.