Gabriel is a presenter at Umoja Radio 92.3 FM He was once a refugee in Mtabira where they established a radio station. But after a very short time, the refugee camp was closed and they were taken back to Burundi. After the recent conflict in Burundi he fled again and arrived in Nyarugusu two years ago. He got another opportunity to work in a community radio station at Radio Umoja. His job entails reading the news, sports, entertainment. Quotes from Gabriel: "Yes, truly I am very satisfied to be here at this moment, since this has been a dream for me since my childhood I have always wanted to become a journalist. Therefore, I have benefited from this opportunity to be a journist in this radio station called Radio Umoja. Here we have various programmes that we broadcast." "We have news bulletins, we also have music programmes, as well as sports. Our main objective is to inform the public about what is happening elsewhere across the world. We have various information sites, for example through the internet. We also listen to various radio channels, the biggest being World Radio. We are also following various media outlets." "We have various programmes that we transmit. For example we have drama, we have music, and we also have sports to entertain our listeners. Our listeners appreciate our work very much, through what we are doing in terms of transmission of programmes. We also have information that we provide as well. Being a refugee is very difficult. It is never easy. Therefore, we try to support since being refugees is a forced event. Therefore, we try to do all that we can so as to support. And we hope that one day, peace will return to our country and we shall make the decision to return to our country of origin." Photo: NRC Ingrid Prestetun
Gabriel är en av radiovärdarna på Umoja Radio. Han når miljontals lyssnare över hela världen från flyktinglägret i Tanzania. Foto: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC

Uppfyllde barndomsdrömmen om radio

Publicerat 28. aug 2017
Med Radio Umoja når Jonathan miljontals lyssnare över hela världen från Tanzanias största flyktingläger.

I Tanzania och Demokratiska republiken Kongo blir journalister ofta trakasserade och arresterade. Det stoppade inte kongolesiska Jonathan från att starta en egen radiokanal.

När han anlände till flyktinglägret Nyarugusu i Tanzania 1997 fanns det knapphändig information om frågor som angick de boende i lägret. Det hände mycket i Nyarugusu, ett av världens största flyktingläger. Bara att ingen visste om det.

Någonting måste göras. Jonathan hittade en högtalare och en liten radiosändare. På dagarna gick han till hjälporganisationerna som arbetade i lägret och samlade information. På kvällen meddelade han vad han hade fått veta. Det dröjde inte länge innan en grupp människor samlades runt högtalarna varje natt, för att höra senaste nyheterna från Jonathan.


Lyssnare över hela världen

Nu sitter inte Jonathan utomhus längre med sin högtalare. Han har en riktig studio. Radio Umoja 92,3 FM är en populär radiokanal i flyktinglägret, där över 120 000 kongolesiska och burundiska flyktingar har sökt tillflykt från våldet i sina hemländer. Efter nästan 20 år i etern har radiokanalen nu lyssnare över hela världen, bland annat från USA och Norge. Han får ta emot hälsningar från lyssnare i länder såsom Sydafrika, Nederländerna och Australien.

- Med internet kan vi nå miljontals människor, förklarar Jonathan. Radio Umoja är en oberoende kanal och tillhör flyktingarna.


Flykting och journalist

Gabriel och Maria är två av Jonathans kollegor. De är volontärer på radiokanalen och reportrar, som informerar de boende i flyktinglägren om senaste nytt.

Gabriel har tvingats fly från hemlandet Burundi flera gånger. Kongolesiska Maria har levt som flykting i Tanzania sedan 2001. Frivilligarbetet på Radio Umoja ger vardagen en mening.

- Jag har drömt om det här ända sedan jag var ett barn, säger Gabriel. Jag har alltid velat bli journalist.

Maria arbetar som ambulerande reporter och rapporterar från studion. Hon anser att jobbet hon gör är viktigt, också för att inspirera unga tjejer. Som barn tyckte hon om att lyssna på radio på kvällarna. Nu är hon vuxen och ensamstående mamma, och hon ser sig som en förebild.

- Folk vill alltid prata med mig när de ser mig på gatan, och barnen kommer för att hälsa på mig, säger hon.

Radio Umoja was established by Jonathan (in yellow t-shirt) in March 1997. When he first entered Nyarugusu refugee camp, he observed that there was a lot of misinformation or lack of information reaching refugees on issues affecting them. He immediately swung into actions. Using available resources, he acquired a loud speaker and a small transmitter and during the evening he would announce information that he had acquired through UNHCR and other agencies through the loudspeaker. Many people used to come to gather around the loudspeaker to listen to latest information. Gaining acceptance and support, he started putting together radio station equipment through support from humanitarian agencies. He also obtained a 6-month license from the Tanzanian government to broadcast information. During the six-month pilot phase, he received supervision and content scrutiny from Tanzania’s Ministry of Home Affairs. He used to get permits to stay out of the camp in order to travel to Dar-es-Salaam capital to follow up on equipment such as transmitters, microphones and studio controls. He also received permits to bring on board radio announcers and field reporters. His main goal is to use the radio station to raise awareness among the refugee population about pertinent issues and solutions. For example, how the youth can be productive and avoid engaging in criminal activities. He also speaks out against sexual violence targeting women and girls. The radio transmitter covers a radius of 30 kilometres. “People in Nyakitonto usually call the studio to say that they can hear our voices loud and clear,” says Jonathan. Initially his radio station was called ‘Radio Taarifa Tangazo na Salaam’ (RTTS), translated as News, Announcement and Greetings Radio. Later he decided to specialize in religious songs and changed the name to Umoja Radio, which means Unity radio. There are 26 workers in the studio, including security staff, editors, cleaners, field reporters among others. These are all volunteers. Operational challenges “Lack of funds to pay workers and services that we receive is the biggest challenge. This leads to a high turn-over since the workers also need an income to support their families,” says Jonathan. This means that the radio station cannot operate optimally since fuel shortage are bound to occur. 15 litres of petrol is needed per day to guarantee full-time broadcast, while a litre of petrol costs 2,500 Tanzanian Shillings (XXX US Dollars). Jonathan has a better idea, he thinks that solar as an alternative green power option can solve all the energy and fuel demands. As can be expected from a remote refugee camp like Nyarugusu, there are other challenges faced by the radio station staff. “The station infrastructure needs an upgrade. We need to fix the ceiling, buy office facilities such as tables, chairs, shelves, monitors and central processing units. We are also using an improvised antennae to transmit radio frequencies,” says Jonathan. Most importantly, they need money to pay for transport for field reporters, or to purchase a scooter for ease of transportation. Umoja Radio broadcasts from 6am up to midnight on Sundays to Thursday and 24 hours on Fridays and Saturdays. However, due to shortage of fuel, radio hours can sometimes be shortened. To subsidize running costs, they sometimes sell greeting cards and on-air advertisements. “Listeners are not happy when we shorten the radio hours,” says Jonathan. The most popular programmes are “Vijana na Maendeleo” (youth and development), “Sauti ya walemavu” (voices of people with disabilities), “Wakati wa utamaduni” (Time for traditions) and “Afya yetu” (Our health). Except for one, all other programmes are broadcast in Swahili language which is well understood by both refugees and host communities. They also publish a monthly magazine called “Mwangaza” which means “Rays of light”. Community engagement According to Jonathan, it is very important to work closely with the refugee community and be seen to be part of camp activities. We cannot afford to operate in isolation, any perception of being an ivory tower automatically leads to loss of trust. For example, a children’s parliament visits the radio station once every term to discuss and debate issues. Listeners can also call in and express their views. The station is running broadcast courses for students who are interested in journalism. The third cycle of courses has been started with a total of 21 students. Twenty-one learners completed the first cycle, followed by 17 students on the second cycle. They hope to secure their own building structures to offer the courses. Subjects taught include History of radio and broadcasting, language of radio, communication processes, broadcasting chain, interview techniques, radio production, advocacy and media ethics. Radio staff regularly visit local hospitals to speak with patients and discuss health issues. These inform health programmes such as ‘Ugua pole’ translated as ‘quick recovery’. However, at times the hospital staff and management become hostile towards field reporters and put a ban on speaking to the media. They also visit farmers to better understand their livelihood activities and farming methods. “Generally the host communities perceive refugees as troubled people who have fled their country and cannot depend on themselves for daily survival. We are also perceived as people whose movements are restricted, which is a challenge when we try to access services. When I used to travel to Dar-es-Salaam using my movement authorization people used to be suspicious when I informed them that I was a refugee. One man suspected that I was plotting a coup to overthrow the government,” he says. In addition, host communities perceive refugees as being criminals or lazy. He hopes that through his programmes, he can help to reverse the negative attitudes. Online radio Interestingly, Umoja Radio can also be heard through the internet and through mobile App ‘Umojaradio’ which can be downloaded via Googla Play. To listen to the radio via the web, go to: www.umojaradio.nl. On Facebook, the address is ‘Umoja Radio Nyarugusu’. Through the internet, they are able to reach millions of active and potential listeners. Listeners regularly send greetings from as far as the United States of America, Australia, The Netherlands and South Africa. One listener from Norway also showed up at one time. The main challenge is that they rely on a modem with a speed of just 7.2 Megabytes per second. Background and early days Jonathan has spent 20 years in Nyarugusu camp. He first arrived in 1996 fleeing tribal conflict locally labelled ‘Songa Mbele’, or ‘move on’. He was born in Fizi Zone in the Democratic Republic of Congo. He is 47 years old. He started learning about radio in the DRC. He used to write articles for ‘Jua’ newspaper (Jua means Knowledge in Swahili language. He was a reporter for Radio Channel Africa from 2004 to 2005. Quotes from Jonathan: "I am working here at Radio Umoja situated in the Nyarugusu refugee camp, I am happy because our radio station informs and teaches the refugees all the time. We begin our broadcast at 8am in the morning until midnight." "It is important that refugees listen to the information through our radio. It is important because they listen to information across the world from Nyarugusu." "Radio Umoja is independent and belongs to the refugees. This includes the refugees from Congo DR and Burundi as well." Photo: NRC Ingrid Prestetun
Jonathan (i mitten) arbetar med Gabriel och Maria på Radio Umoja. Kanalen har sändningar från tidig morgon till sent på kvällen. Foto: Ingrid Prestetun/NRC


Utmaningar

Även om det är ett meningsfullt arbete är det inte alltid lätt att driva en radiokanal i ett flyktingläger. Jonathan, Gabriel och Maria har sändningar från tidig morgon till sent på kvällen, men de har begränsade resurser att arbeta med. För att betala löpande kostnader måste de ibland sälja annonsutrymme under sändningstiden.

- Lyssnarna tycker inte om när vi skär ner på sändningstiden, säger Jonathan.

Själva jobbar de frivilligt utan lön.

Trots utmaningarna förlorar de inte modet. Tvärtom så har Radio Umoja allt större ambitioner. Teamet håller en radiokurs för unga flyktingar intresserade av journalistik. På så sätt är nästa generation redo att ta över när den tiden kommer.

Du kan lyssna på Radio Umoja online på www.umojaradio.nl.