How do you get vital information to someone who is poor and is being oppressed in a far away country? How do you ensure that such information is not interruptions or jammed by governments?

Shortwave is your answer.  A shortwave radio can receive transmission on frequencies between 3 and 30 MHz. They offer the possibility to transmit over for long distances.

Shortwave broadcasting sites use Antenna Arrays supported by miles of wires suspended in the air or buried in the ground. These arrays are used to direct signals toward the ionosphere. Using calculations based on electronic directionalizing, power, and atmospheric conditions, these antennas project their signals so they will come down on specific target areas around the world.

A receiver can then tune in to listen to information being broadcast. A simple receiver able to receive some desirable frequencies is all that is need.

The shortwave radios are widely available. Repressive governments find it difficult to censor them.  In places where there is no electricity, hand-cranked shortwave radio can last indefinitely. Shortwave radio travels much farther than broadcast FM (88-108 MHz). Shortwave broadcasts can be easily transmitted over a distance of several thousands of kilometers, i.e. from one continent to another, especially at night.

Major broadcasting corporations such as Voice of America and BBC World services continue to use shortwave in their international broadcasting.

Appfrica International is a unique for-profit organization based in Uganda. While doing well as a software development firm producing innovative products and services, Appfrica is doing good by offering opportunities and work experience to East African software entrepreneurs and graduates.  They aim at augmenting the growing local software development market. The video below gives a 60 second overview.

With a CEO, Jon Gosier, who clearly falls under what Radio Free Africa’s Prof. Ayittey calls the cheetah generation, Appfrica is performing what they termed “alchemy” on a shoestring budget. Their success is sure proof that the African needs only to be unchained to release his or her dream.

In pursuing their mission, Appfrica runs Appfrica.net as their publishing arm disseminating news on emerging technology. They also produce Appfricast, which is available on iTunes.

Moreover,  Appfrica Labs provide a physical space with solid Internet connection, servers, software and computers to individuals to develop their ideas in a constructive environment under the mentorship professionals. The Lab recently started an International Fellowship Programme, bringing well renowned developers from around the globe to share experiences with up and coming developers in East Africa.

Appfrica gives East African graduates hand-on programming experience in various programming languages with a vision to make the sub-region an attractive place for software development.

Here’s a 60 second video overview:

Kenyan Internews journalist Tole Nyatta interviews people about the violence that followed a disputed Presidential Election result in early 2008.

Founded in 1982, Internews has been empowering local media in the developing world for over two decades.  With its stated goal as that of an International Media Development Organization, Internews’ core mission is to enhance and assist in sustaining local media through its variety of programs; from staff training to the support of journalist associations.   To date, Internews has aided in the development of around 4800 independent media venues to include newspapers, radio outlets and television stations.  In addition, Internews trains between 8,000 to 10,000 people every year in management, journalism and production.

Internews’ mission has taken it to some of the most difficult environments around the world.  Presently Internews has programs in Sudan, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Kenya, Chad and Rwanda; as well as Latin American, Eurasia, the Middle East and the Caribbean.

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Sarata Jabbi-Dibba is a powerful inspiration to us at Radio Free Africa.

On September 3, 2009, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, vice president of the Gambia Press Union and reporter for the independent newspaper, The Point, was granted a presidential pardon and released from prison. Dibba, along with six other journalists, was sentenced to two years’ imprisonment for defaming President Jammeh. The sedition charges stemmed from an incident in which the GPU issued a statement criticizing the president for slandering the memory of the late Deyda Hydara, editor of The Point, who was brutally murdered in 2004.

At the time of the arrest June 15, 2009 Dibba was still nursing her 7 month old son. She was allowed to have her son with her the first three days. Prison officials took him away on the third day. Dibba and her lawyer went to the prison director. The director relented and allowed family members to bring her son to the prison for breast-feeding.

Since her release, Dibba has resumed writing her column, “She, She, She”, which addresses women’s issues. It was her late editor, Deyda Hydara, who supported Dibba when she started the column. Dibba attributes Hydara as her reason for going into journalism.

In a country where journalists are under serious threats and subject to an array of human rights abuses, the courage displayed by Dibba and her colleagues is laudable. Their fallen comrade, Deyda Hydara lost his life fighting for press freedom. Hydara was killed one day after publishing an article railing against two new Gambian laws that infringed upon freedom of expression. His killers were never found. The six journalists remain committed to his memory even if it means losing their own freedom.

What sort of news would you hear from an industry by and for the world’s poorest? This is what the Video Volunteers are about. As a non-profit organization based in New York City, the Video Volunteers envisions a “global social media network, which provides solutions-based media for marginalized and poor communities around the world.”

Their vision is shared by Radio Free Africa which aims for an independent, free media to “facilitate the free flow of information, expose criminal wrongdoing, and disseminate ideas.”

What motivates the Video Volunteers? A 2002 World Bank study asked over 60,000 people living on less than a $1.00 a day what they consider to be the single greatest hurdle to their advancement. The poor placed “lack of voice” above things like food, shelter and education.

The Video Volunteers are working to provide an alternative media landscape to thousands of people around the world.  They help those living in slums and villages to produce high quality video content that brings awareness and empowers communities.  They envision something like a BBC or CNN for the poor.

Their strategies include Community Video Model, and Community Journalism Program. Currently they have 8 Community Video Units (CVUs) across India.

Here’s an example of some of their fantastic work:

Radio Free Africa is  going to investigate the feasibility of a CVU for villages with no electricity during our trip this month to Burkina Faso.