In 2008 I lived and worked in South Africa with my family for 9 months while helping to develop the Diocesan link between Oxford and Kimberley & Kuruman. My past experience working in media and communications for development attracted me to the work of the Children’s Radio Foundation (CRF) based in Cape Town, South Africa. 

CRF is a unique non-governmental organisation in that its principles are rooted in changing narratives and discourse about young people in Africa today so they can enact social change in their communities. 

CRF trains young people the basics of radio journalism so they can share their ideas, concerns, and solutions for a better tomorrow. Radio is the most accessible and used platform for communication and information sharing in Africa. Radio technology is also very easy to learn to use and young people learn broadcasting and production skills very quickly. 

Since its inception in 2008, CRF has trained 2400 reporters in 6 African countries with broadcasts now reaching over 9 million listeners weekly. For a small charity that is an incredible achievement and I extremely honoured to have been President of this organisation for 7 years. 

A simple idea powers the Children’s Radio Foundation: give young people tools and skills to express their ideas and share their stories, and you will give them a springboard to a world of wider opportunities. Since its founding by Elizabeth Sachs in 2006, CRF has created a network of more than 1700 trained youth radio reporters across six countries in Africa, who broadcast on local and national radio stations and via social media.