What We Do

CRF's journey began in South Africa in 2007 with the idea that radio is an important tool for youth empowerment in Africa. We now have over 1000 CRF-trained youth radio reporters at 50 project sites in 5 countries who broadcast shows in for youth in their community on a weekly basis in 25 local languages.

CRF's UNIQUE APPROACH TO TRAINING

● IDENTIFY a local site, radio station, and community organization partner.
● TRAIN community members to work as project leaders and mentors.
● TRAIN youth to research, produce, and broadcast radio shows.
● CREATE ongoing youth-oriented radio shows that address important issues in the community, and stimulate dialogue among youth.
● SUPPORT projects with resources, production tips, monitoring and evaluation, and monthly newsletters.
● CONNECT youth through an online audio sharing platform so they can exchange content, interact, and learn from each other.



Why Radio?

RADIO IS EASY TO LEARN.
Radio requires minimal technical expertise. Young people are able to learn production and broadcast skills quickly.

RADIO IS UNIVERSAL IN AFRICA.
In 2011, only 6.2% of Africans logged on to the internet. Over 80% of people in Africa have regular access to a radio, making it a crucial source of information.

RADIO IS FLEXIBLE AND PORTABLE.
Radio projects are suited to all settings, even remote, isolated areas where electricity is not readily available.

RADIO PROJECTS ARE INEXPENSIVE.
In 2011, an operating budget of approximately $620,000USD enabled us to reach millions of youth on the African continent.

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Project Highlights

Youth Radio Network

In Liberia, South Africa, Tanzania, and Zambia, CRF has been working with radio stations and youth organizations to create a nationwide Youth Radio Network in each country. The CRF-trained youth radio producers broadcast on local stations and share their radio programs digitally with other project sites via SoundCloud, allowing them to share their work and learn from each other. With the mentorship of our local project facilitators, the youth take to their communities and report on issues of concern, create advocacy oriented media packages, and host weekly shows for their peers on their local radio stations. They also organize outreach activities, host outside broadcasts, and in general, engage their communities on youth issues. The goal is to amplify the voices of youth in their communities across the African continent.


Working with UNICEF

Since 2009, the Children's Radio Foundation has partnered with UNICEF on a series of initiatives. In World Cup in My Village, CRF provided youth media training and access to coverage of the FIFA World Cup 2010 for young people in two countries. As part of UNICEF's climate change initiatives, CRF trained over 200 young people from 44 countries as radio journalists at the Children's Climate Forum in Copenhagen and developed a nationwide environment youth radio project in Zambia. In the Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, South Africa, and Tanzania, CRF works with UNICEF and local radio stations to roll our community-driven youth radio projects. More exciting UNICEF initiatives are in the works - check the News section for more information.

Connecting Classrooms

The CRF uses radio and other technologies to connect young people across the world and to facilitate cross-cultural dialogues about pressing social issues. Pairing high school classrooms in different countries, our audio pen pal program gets young people to exchange audio letters and to participate in debates on a regular basis. The project encourages young people to see the world from a different perspective, fosters a spirit of dialogue and debate, and teaches vital communications skills.

Hospital Radio

Hospitals are often places where young patients have so much on their minds but don't always get the chance to talk freely. Radio helps them to tell their stories about what it's like to be sick, face an operation or to be away from home. It's also a great way to get to ask doctors and nurses really tough questions. The Children's Radio Foundation conducted a radio training at Red Cross War Memorial Children's Hospital, the largest pediatric hospital on the African continent. Young patients here recorded many powerful stories. To hear some of the hospital radio productions, click here.

We are now training young patients at Brooklyn Chest Hospital in Cape Town, a care facility for tuberculosis (TB). CRF-trained patients at the hospital record stories about having to be away from home for many months during their treatment, and the difficulties of taking a strict regimen of medication everyday. Their audio diaries reflect their day-to-day struggles with TB, and often reveal the solitary space of the hospital environment. The United Nations says TB is the second most contagious disease in the world, so these stories from young people are an important voice to be acknowledged.

Médecins Sans Frontières

CRF is collaborating with Médecins Sans Frontières on an HIV and AIDS radio project in Khayelitsha, Cape Town. Teaming up with MSF’s social services unit, youth facilitators, and peer educators, CRF is rolling out a radio dialogue project for young people living with HIV. Working with both MSF’s children’s group and youth groups at Khayelitsha’s Site B Ubuntu clinic, the project gives young people and their caregivers the space to speak about what is happening in their lives, to share their experiences, and to learn from others.

The radio project also creates the conditions for parents to speak with their children about their HIV status, and for young people to speak about issues concerning them. It uses radio training workshops as a means of bringing about everyday conversations with family and peers, and facilitating a broader community dialogue.

In addition, trained youth, parents, and caregivers will have the opportunity to participate in radio talk shows on local community station Radio Zibonele, and to work as facilitators in other youth groups working on HIV and AIDS issues.