By Anastasia Joyce | Assistant Project Manager
Dear friends of the ORS-FM Maasai Community Radio project,
Thank you for your continued interest and support in keeping the ORS-FM radio station on air! As the first (and only) community-led radio station in Tanzania broadcasting to the Maasai in their own language, it is an essential way for the Maasai to access news and stay connected. So thank you for supporting this important project!
The Wins:
The radio station has now been successfully running on solar power for the last three months! This makes it easier to operate and keep the station on air 24/7. This is fantastic for longevity of the radio station and ensuring it is accessible to all.
The Challenges:
The transmitter currently being used by the radio station is old and in need of replacing. The transmitter as it is cannot run to it's the full 2kW potential and so the broadcasting range is limited to a smaller area. This of course limits the reach of the station and so less of the Maasai can access news and culture in their own language.
A little while ago we had the fantastic news that BBC Media Action collaborated with ORS-FM and generously provided money to buy a new transmitter! However, due to bankruptcy of the supplier the new transmitter is currently on hold.
The company that has bought out the supplier will not honour the order unless further payments are made. The transmitter originally cost £7000, and the company are now asking for a further £3000. As you can imagine this is incredibly disappointing and unfair, but to get the new transmitter the best option is to pay the requested amount, as to start the process again will incur significantly more costs. We are therefore hoping to be able to raise the funds so the new transmitter can finally be delivered and the full broadcast range can be reached.
If you are able to assist in meeting this new funding need it would be absolutely fantastic, and if you cannot then thank you for your previous and ongoing support and for tak ing the time to check in with this project.
As ever, please share this project with friends and family so that we can continue to assist ORS-FM to reach the Maasai community, we and ORS-FM appreciate your support!
With warm wishes from,
Anastasia and the whole team at SVRG
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