FM Radio to Bring Child Soldiers Home in Central Africa
Invisible Children in San Diego, CA by Michelle Barbeau
Invisible Children is teaming with the UN and other groups to bring messages of peaceful surrender directly to the LRA. FM radio signals are broadcast up to 50 kilometers away, covering dozens of communities and thousands of square kilometers in LRA territory. Local organizations operate the radio and broadcast vital security and educational information to protect surrounding communities. FM radio stations also play “Come Home” messages to encourage the LRA to surrender and return home.
Thousands of children and families in Uganda, DR Congo and Central African Republic benefit from our rehabilitation and protection initiatives.
Our major accomplishments include 19,400 people in Uganda benefitting from IC’s programs; a bill passed through Congress demanding that resolving this crisis be a higher priority; 32 LRA abductees surrendering (largely because of FM radio messaging); and 10,000 presentations to an audience of over 4 million students in 12 countries.
Through the power of radio, we are protecting communities, bringing child soldiers home, and demobilizing the LRA rebel army.
These funds will help train personnel and expand 3 FM radio stations. They will be able to reach thousands of more listeners with warnings of LRA attack. Additionally, they can spread the message to child soldier abductees that they should surrender and come home to their families.
