Luís Rafael is a young man from Sanga district, a small town located some 40 kilometers from Lichinga, the provincial capital. “I have been in love with radio since I was a child,” says Luís, who explains that the national and provincial broadcast signals would often not reach his remote district when he grew up. Motivated by a desire to help bring information to his community, Luís decided to build his own radio station, using what we had on hand and what he could learn on the internet.
He currently uses his own cell phone as a multi-purpose tool for recording, editing and transmitting programs, using a transmitter and tower he built himself. He is now the owner, coordinator, producer and presenter at Community Radio “Bagarila”, which serves as a relay and re-broadcasting station for Rádio Esperança in Lichinga, an h2n strategic partner station, which has several local relay stations in the province.
The most popular program re-broadcast by the “Bagarila” station is the “Saúde na Comunidade” radio version of the popular “Saúde e Vida” television program. “The work that Luís is doing is very inspiring because he has built something from nothing,” says João Bosse, h2n national coordinator for radio. “The station is a center for learning and information, and it shows that the entrepreneurial spirit is alive and well.” João and his team are currently working to get some equipment together to help Luís upgrade his station.
h2n, which is primarily supported by Norway, works extensively with community radios, produces community videos, broadcasts the “Saude e Vida” television program on health and wellness, facilitates youth engagement hubs and pursues a rapidly expanding gender equality agenda.