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The Freeplay Lifeline wind-up radio needs no batteries or mains power electricity. It gets its power from a crank handle on its rear, or by solar power cell. Sixty seconds turning the crank handle provides one hour of radio listening. The radios are donated to young people in Africa who have been left virtually destitute by war and disease. Benefactors, including Rotarians, donate radios to needy recipients because they know that radio can educate and help young people in need of information on health, hygiene, nutrition and family care.

We have recently had an update from the CEO of the Freeplay Foundation, Kristine Pearson, regarding the most recent shipment of Lifeline Radios. She was present when the radios were being distributed and she has sent the photographs and stories below.

The radios have been distributed mainly in an area of Rwanda called Gitarama. Many of these children have tragic stories often having been robbed of a childhood and forced into taking on adult responsibilities that no child should have to bear. The radios bring joy and education into otherwise difficult lives.

Photo shows the training session that was led by a CARE outreach worker. About 15 child heads of households received Lifeline radios on this day
	This 18 year-old girl is Lililian and this is her tiny one-roomed house that she shares with her two younger siblings near the town of Gitarama. The siblings were in school at the time. The other photo is her listening to the radio as she cooks outside. The diet consists mainly of beans, which she grows, rice which she receives from CARE (who get if from World Food Program) and bananas that grow abundantly in Rwanda. Lack of clean water is a problem. She fetches water each day from a swampy area at the bottom of her hill. Most of Lilliane's family was killed in the 1994 genocide. Lillian actually earns a bit of money by making bricks for someone nearby and one day hopes to make her house bigger. It is one small room with a few basic household items.
Lilliane wants to listen to the news to stay informed and she likes to know the weather (don't we all!) She spent quite a lot of time speaking about HIV/Aids, which is not unusual for a girl her age. She said would like to learn more about how to behave properly (which is usually what girls say when they're worried about getting raped). Many African girls speak about learning information on the radio that has helped them avoid being raped. Lillian says she worries about security, food and health matters. She owns one skirt and has two shirts, a sweater and one pair of shoes.
	This photo is of Francine and her son Patric. They live in one small room with a chicken and a goat. Francine has only the clothes on her back. She does not smile easily, although Patric has a lovely nature and he giggles a lot. Her parents were killed in the genocide and her grandfather lives down the road. He does not help her or her son, so they must manage as best they can. Francine said that the radio opened many new things for her because she has to 'run her own life'. She feels 'outside her isolation'. She also enjoys listening to gospel songs and anything that will help her raise Patric as a good person. If you would like to support the Freeplay Lifeline radio project, please send your email inquiry to Rotary eClub One. We will send you details on how you can sponsor one ore more radios. The email address for Rotarian Sam Leon is Sam@samleon.com.au

To do BOTH use the Critique E-mail first, then return and click on the Make-Up Request Form

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FREEPLAY LIFELINE RADIOS HELP CHILDREN IN RWANDA