Rwanda Radio Project for Orphans

 Lifeline Energy CEO Kristine Pearson recently traveled to Rwanda to check in on the radio project that is benefiting child headed households.  This is the organization’s longest running project and one that she has personally been involved with since its inception in 2000.
 
When Kristine began distributing radios the child-only households who had no access to radio, they tended to listen to international stations like Voice of America and the BBC, both which broadcast in the local language, Kinyarwanda.  Nowadays, favored stations are overwhelmingly Radio Rwanda and community stations which broadcast programs in the areas where the families live.
 
As always, the children speak of wanting to hear the news, the weather and the time.  They are keenly interested in current events not only in Rwanda, but also in the countries that surround them.  President Kagame makes weekly radio broadcasts as well and they enjoy listening to what he has to say immensely.  In addition, the children always speak about practical radio programs like ones having to do with nutrition, health care, children’s right and most recently the environment.  Rwanda has the toughest environmental laws on the continent and children now speak about climate change and global warming which they never did even as recently as two years ago. When they mention music, its gospel music, citing, “you have to be happy when you sing.”

Lifeline Energy’s principal Rwandan partners are CARE, Fair Children Youth Foundation and Trust and Care.  Over the years Lifeline Energy has distribution approximately 15,000 self-powered radios in Rwanda. Many more child headed families are anxiously waiting to receive theirs.