World Vision Educates Child in Sierra Leone During Ebola Crisis - ‘’More than just a radio’’
Omaru is a 10-year-old boy living within a World Vision United Kingdom (WVUK) —supported Area Development Programme (ADP) in Jaiama Bongor Bo District, southern Sierra Leone. He is among 30,000 children in Sierra Leone who benefited from World Vision’s 30,000 solar-powered radios worth US$600,000 to aid children’s education in Sierra Leone during the Ebola crisis.
He has described the device given to him as being 'more than just a radio.'
''I enjoy being in school again. I missed my friends and the learning and fun I used to have when schools were closed,’’ says Omaru.
‘’But the radio I got from World Vision helped and is still helping me in my studies.’’
Sierra Leone was officially declared Ebola-free on 7 November 2015.But Omaru’s radio is still useful, as the radio set now serves as a source of light, and gives children the opportunity to revise their recorded messages etc.
‘’One of the greatest things this radio is doing for me is the fact that I can listen to news and current affairs in my surrounding and the country, at large, ’’ says Omaru, with a smile.
Omaru’s community, Jaiama Bongor, is a 35-minute drive from Bo, Sierra Leone’s second capital. Bo has some good Frequency Modulation (FM) radio stations that educate, entertain and let people know what is happening in recent times.
All the radio stations in Sierra Leone are still educating the peoples on Ebola prevention methods, so as to avoid its resurgence, like it happened twice in Liberia. With the radio sets, Omaru and the other 29,000 children are reached with continued Ebola sensitization messages.
The FM radio stations also feature child-centered programmes—some moderated by children themselves. So, children also have the opportunity of listening to their peers via radio. Issues of child rights always come up. World Vision also engages children through radio in order to protect them from abuse, exploitation, and a complete violation of their fundamental human rights.
One of the consequences of the Ebola virus on the peoples of Sierra Leone was the closure of schools (primary, high school, institutes and universities).As the situation worsened, children had to cope with staying at home.
‘’Sitting at home doing nothing was not good for me. I almost forgot all what I had learned. But the radio World Vision gave me helped me recover by listening to the radio teachings,’’ says Omaru.
The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology (MEST) initiated the radio teaching programme with support from World Vision and other partners. Organizing radio teaching programme was a step in the right direction as it became one vibrant channel through which lessons were given to some of Sierra Leone’s two million children during the nine months schools were closed, due to the Ebola crisis.
Although the radio teachings seemed helpful, it had one misgiving. It failed to reach children in rural communities, who often lack access to radios and electricity to power them. Even with some digital radios, battery is needed. But how many people can afford to buy battery for their radios in a poverty-stricken environment?
The radios were sourced in China and were required to meet World Vision’s specifications. In addition to using solar energy, they can also be powered by battery and hand cranking. The radios also feature a flashlight, USB port and memory card. Lessons can be recorded on the memory card and replayed at a child’s convenience and time.
Omaru has described the radio given to him by World Vision a blessing. ‘’The radio I received from World Vision is a blessing. It is more than a radio. It helps me through my night studies. I am not worried about buying battery at all. When I need light, I just crank my radio and I have light,’’ he says.
‘I missed some of the radio teachings ‘because I hadn’t a radio of my own. Few of my friends in my community had radios. But my mother couldn’t allow us to go to somebody’s house for fear of Ebola,’’ says Omaru.
Omaru’s community, Jaiama Bongor, did not record a case of Ebola, but Ebola affected every facet of life in his community. Trade fares were banned, school closed, children could not play as they used to, and movements were restricted.
Eight-year-old Francess is Omaru’s niece (his elder sister’s daughter). Like Omaru, she is also a registered child in World Vision’s Sponsorship programme in Sierra Leone. She is also a beneficiary of the radios.
‘’Omaru and I use the light on the radio to study at night. I cherish the radio so much that I don’t want it to get missing or spoilt. This is the first time I am coming across such a device,’’ says Francess.
The teaching Programme was aired to 41 community radio stations across Sierra Leone through a central hub, with a target of reaching 1.5 million children. Students and parents were also alerted to the lessons via text message. Children learned without having to attend school.
See related photo link:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/0t8x0ltr9kcgqet /Omaru%20and%20his%20niece%2C%20Francess.JPG?dl=0
