Search Radio Programs In many developing countries, radio remains the best medium to reach the largest and most comprehensive audience. It remains a low-cost way of reaching people even in more remote and rural areas. Search employs radio as a tool for peace building in programs around the world. We’re showcasing just a few:
Timor-Leste
Training group
Timor-Leste is one of our newest programs, but has already hit the ground running As part of its Youth Radio for Peace Building program, Search for Common Ground facilitated a Common Ground Radio Training Workshop in July, at the National University of Timor-Leste.
It brought together 35 young professional journalists and radio presenters working at community radio stations across all 13 of Timor-Leste’s districts. They participated in a ‘Common Ground’ radio training, using SFCG’s ‘Radio for Peacebuilding’ and ‘Radio Talk Shows for Peacebuilding’ guidebooks and methodology. Staff from the Timor-Leste Media Development Centre (TLMDC), SFCG’s radio production partner, also participated. read more…
Dancers in Minankro
In July and August, 2010, the villages of Glopaoudy and Minankro celebrated their achievements in mediating conflict with two separate Days of Solidarity. Prior to the SFCG intervention in the community, the community of Glopaoudy was intensely divided over land conflict, with tensions particularly high between the Burkinabé population (from Burkina Faso) and “native” Ivoirians. SFCG’s intervention commenced in 2005, with conflict resolution and prevention training sessions and exchanges between community leaders.
The village of Minankro is the result of the government decision to re-group three smaller villages (Andokro, Kongbèkro and Minankro) into one. This re-classification caused a conflict of leadership between the three villages. SFCG began an intervention in the community in 2009 with training sessions for leaders who passed on what they had learned. Today, there is no longer violent conflict between leaders of Minankro and the three populations work together for the development of their community. read more…
Supporter Jim Meier Swims English Channel to Benefit Search
We are honored to announce that Jim Meier, a long-time friend and supporter, has designated Search as one of two beneficiaries of his fundraising swim across the English Channel at the end of August. An avid swimmer since childhood, Jim has twice circled Manhattan in 2005 and 2006.
Jim says: “While I like to test my limits, the fact that my efforts will benefit a great cause is crucial. When I swam the race around Manhattan Island, donations of so many on my behalf were the boost that kept me going for 8 ½ hours when fatigue was urging me to quit. The Channel is easily twice as difficult as Manhattan and the swim is likely to take me twice as long…I am asking you to keep me, and Search, going. Your contribution now will help me make it to France.”
If you would like to support Jim with a gift to Search, please click here. Don’t forget to select “on behalf of” under Donation Dedication and enter “Jim’s Swim.”
We all wish Jim the best of luck for a successful journey!
Michel holds a bachelor degree in social sciences from the University of Ottawa (Canada). After working more than 15 years in special event/music production, he decided to change careers at 42. He volunteered in 2006 in Burkina Faso in AIDS advocacy capacity building and he recently returned from the Congo after 15 months managing humanitarian aid projects with Oxfam Quebec. He is currently pursuing a Master’s degree in conflict analysis and resolution at ICAR and has returned to the DRC this summer to intern with SFCG.
Michael interviewing a challenger in SFCG DRC's reality show: Tosalel'ango
By Michael Gratton
I’ve been with Search in DRC since July 12th, already half way through my field mission, but it feels like I’ve been here much longer. I was in DRC between April 2008 and August 2009, so I was looking forward to coming back, seeing familiar faces and tasting again the delicious roasted goat meat from street vendors…Not much has changed in the last year it seems, except the main roads in Kinshasa are now paved thanks to the Chinese; it is still very dusty in Bukavu during the dry season, and armed conflicts still persist in eastern DRC, although everything is relatively calm right now. The UN mission just changed its name to MONUSCO, which sounds a little like some kind of company making Monuses, whatever that is…Anyway, I preferred MONUC. It must be costly to change all the business cards, signs, decals and the like. And their presence does not feel any different on the streets with the new name. read more…
(www.culanth.org)
The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?
–Pablo Casals
Currently interning with SFCG Côte d’Ivoire, Sarah Gardiner reflects on conflict closer to home.
The scene in the aftermath of the Manchester shootings (msnbc.com)
By Sarah Gardiner
Today I am having a hard time thinking about conflict resolution in Côte d’Ivoire. I spent Sunday-Tuesday in Bouaké, the stronghold of the Forces Nouvelles, a rebel group which is in the process of demobilizing (i.e. holding onto their arms until the elections arrive). I spoke with community leaders about the process of rebuilding in a post-conflict environment, the politics of constructing a future when all the guns aren’t put away yet. I left feeling inspired, a little more in awe of the organization I’m laboring freely for this summer.
When I got back to an internet connection, a friend sent me an article about America’s latest killing rampage – nine dead in a workplace shooting. The picture showed a group of people praying outside of my high school. The title read “Massacre in Manchester,” my hometown in Connecticut. read more…
