Africa is changing. People are lifting their voices, demanding peace and development. Slowly but surely, democracy is taking over.

In the West African nation of Ivory Coast, Peace Counts supports the movement. Our project: Peace FM, a radio station that actively strengthens civil society, promotes reconciliation and provides a media platform for the country?s mosaic of cultures.

Why Ivory Coast?

After a months-long power struggle that left thousands dead, Ivory Coast?s internationally recognized president finally took office in May 2011. His inauguration put an end to the political tug-of-war that had been going on since 2002, bringing the country a bloody civil war and deep ethnic divisions.

Ivory Coast now has a chance at rebirth and a stable future. All of Africa is watching the developments there with intense interest and hope.

Why a radio station?

In Ivory Coast, as in much of Africa, radio is the central medium. Newspapers are only read by a literate elite, and only the wealthy have televisions. It is the spoken word that rules Africa ? and the spoken word comes over the radio.

But Ivory Coast?s radio journalists lack formal training. They see themselves as polemicists for those in power. They seldom turn their attention to the rural population, grassroots social movements, or the country?s more than 60 different ethnic groups.

Peace FM will give civil society a voice. It will promote peace and reconciliation and provide information on health, education and development. And it will reflect the country?s cultural wealth.

How will Peace FM carry out its mission?

Peace FM?s ten-member editorial staff is based in Abidjan, the country?s economic capital. With a broadcasting range of 100 kilometers, the station has a potential audience of five million.

Peace FM will cooperate with local broadcasters nationwide. Correspondents at partner stations will provide reporting, and Peace FM will produce professional programs for redistribution to partner stations. Regular workshops will teach journalistic skills and values and strengthen correspondents? self-image as impartial observers.

How will programming quality be assured?

Peace FM is a Peace Counts project. Founded in 2003, Peace Counts is an international initiative of journalists and educators with a focus on peace building and conflict resolution. In 2009 the initiative received the Peter Becker Award for Peace and Conflict Studies of the German University of Marburg.

Peace Counts vouches for Peace FM?s nonpartisan stance and will provide training in professional skills and conflict transformation for its journalists.

In West Africa, Peace Counts is represented by Souleymane Oulai, a prominent Ivorian radio personality and media manager who has been working with the initiative since 2008. He will be Peace FM?s director and head of programming.

Peace FM?s local partner is the charitable foundation Dr. Peter Graze that was established by Souleymane Oulai in Abidjan. Its mission is to strengthen civil society in Ivory Coast by advocating peace, reconciliation, and development.

What assistance does Peace FM need?

The radio station is in need of technical equipment and start-up funding which Peace Counts hopes to acquire from international donors, NGOs and government institutions.

The first-ever independent radio station in Ivory Coast is planned to begin broadcasting in 2012 and should be self-supporting by the end of 2013.

Donations:

By wire transfer to the Culture Counts Foundation, account 37 50 59 00 59, Bank fuer Sozialwirtschaft 700 20 500, purpose: Peace Counts Radio.

Contact:

Peace Counts: Tilman Woertz
tw@zeitenspiegel.de
Tel. +49 (0) 71 51 - 96 46 14

Peace FM: Souleymane Oulai
oulaisouleymane@yahoo.fr
Tel. +49 (0) 176 - 60 96 54 73

Coordination: Daniela Simpson
daniela.simpson@peace-support.de
Tel. +49 (0) 176 - 25 86 48 79

radio.peace-counts.org