The Community Empowerment for Progress Organisation (CEPO) last week started distributing solar-powered radios to each of the five payams of Yei River County in Central Equatoria State.
The activity commenced with the formation of radio listener committees in the payams of Yei, Tore, Otogo, Mugwo, and Lasu.
According to Yeka Joel, CEPO’s field officer in Yei, the organization formed the radio listener committees and gave each payam a radio so that the people are informed and can discuss topical issues that are broadcasted.
“We give radios to the committees so that the communities can access information and general knowledge through the media that can help them. We expect them to discuss certain topics,” he explained. “We chose radio so that the people are informed, know what is happening, and are abreast with current events.”
Yeka said the radio sets are communally owned and will be in the joint custody of the head chief and the elected chairperson of each group.
“This radio cannot be owned by an individual but there are roles. The group sits together and listens to programs at a given time and then holds discussions,” he said. “We will regularly supervise their activities, particularly during their meetings because we asked them to conduct monthly gatherings to enable them to choose topics that can be discussed.”
Meanwhile, Regina Aate, a beneficiary of the project, said she is happy with CEPO because the community has not had access to information from the media.
“I am happy because of the radios that CEPO has distributed because we have not been able to access information easily,” she said. “However, with the radio, we can easily access information and follow the programs of CEPO.”
John Bobby, another member of a radio listening group, said that with elections approaching, the radio will keep them informed about current affairs in the country.
“I am very happy with CEPO for distributing the radios and we are now able to listen to the news since elections are approaching,” he said. “The radio that they gave is powered by solar so we no longer need money to charge our radios or buy batteries. I am very thankful and want CEPO to continue with such initiatives.”