User:LeeRuth123/Foundationa Hirondelle: Media for Peace and Human Dignity

Fondation Hirondelle: Media for Peace and Human Dignity

Fondation Hirondelle is a Swiss NGO founded by journalists. It creates independent media in post-conflict zones and developing countries. By providing impartial, professional information to populations who would otherwise be deprived of it, Fondation help renew dialogue, build peace and contribute to economic development and to the emergence of democratic societies. Thanks to Fondation Hirondelle, 30 million citizens are able to stay in touch each day with events in their country, to form their own opinions on issues that concern them, and above all to make their voices heard. Founded 15 years ago, Fondation Hirondelle currently operates media operations in Democratic Republic of Congo, Liberia, Sierra Leone, Central African Republic, Sudan and Tanzania (reporting on the International Criminal Tribunal for Rwanda).

History

During a mission to Rwanda in spring 1994, Swiss journalist Philippe Dahinden was one of the first to measure the scale of the genocide taking place there. “We can't just go home and start doing something else, we need to do something!” Dahinden told his colleagues. When asked what could be done, he replied: “A radio station!”

Radio Agatashya, meaning hirondelle (a bird, symbol of hope) in kinyarwanda, was launched to help the conflict’s victims. The following year, journalists Philippe Dahinden, Jean-Marie Etter and François Gross created Fondation Hirondelle to take over the running of this radio which was initially set up under the aegis of Reporters Without Borders.

Projects

The Foundation belief in the importance of providing free and truthful information has led to its independent radio network using radio airwaves to oppose both violence and poverty. Currently, Foundation Hirondelle has six active projects:

Radio Okapi

Hirondelle has managed Radio Okapi in the Democratic Republic of Congo since 2002, in partnership with the United Nations. It is the UN's largest radio-based project.

Radio Ndeke Luka

Has been an active project since March 2000 in the Republic of Central Africa. Radio Ndeke Luka, is listened to by over 1 million people each day, that’s a quarter of Central Africa’s population. Radio is broadcast in both the national language Sango and French

Agency Hirondelle News

The Agency has been following the judicial outcomes of the International Tribunal Court for Rwanda. Since its creation in 1997, The Agency has produced more then 16,000 broadcasts in English, French, Kiswahili and Kinyarwanda which are available on its website http://www.hirondellenews.org/

Miyra FM

Launched in June 2006 in Sudan, Miyra broadcasts into both Northern and Southern Sudan. During the referendum in January 2001, Radio Miraya, provided unbiased and informative information to the Sudanese population. Radio Miyrar is currently based in Khartoum and Juba. However, its operations in Sudan will adapt to the new political outcome of the referendum .

Star Radio

Established in 1997 it quickly became a point of reference for West Africa. In 2000, the station was temporarily closed down by Liberian president Charles Taylor, however, was re-opened in 2005. Since 2008 Liberians have managed the management of the station. Star Radio is the most popular radio station in Liberia and is listened to by over a million people each day.

Cotton Tree News

Based in Sirra-Leona, Cotton Tree News has continued to play a vital role in the country since its establishment in 2007. The following year it was nominated for BBC’s “Special Award for Media”. In 2007 the station launched into a partnership with The University of Sierra Leone. In 2010 the team decided to develop a new project working on establishing a national radio station (with its own distribution network). However, they were not able to acquire enough funding for this new project and Foundation Hirondelle had to suspend its funding from January 2011. None the less, Foundation Hirondelle has continued to actively seek donors to support this program.

Funding

In 2010 Fondation Hirondelle media are supported by the following" Governments: Belgium, Germany, Ireland, Luxemburg, the Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, the United States, as well as the European Union and the International Organization of La Francophonie.

Private partners and donors: notably OSISA (Open Society Initiative for Southern Africa), Cordaid, the Migros Foundation, the National Endowment for Democracy, the National Democratic Institute, and the Foundation Pro Victimis. individual donors, either directly or through the website Global Giving.

Awards

Since its creation in 1995, Fondation Hirondelle has received several international prizes and awards, notably :

The 2003 Henri Dunant Prize for “exceptional accomplishments in the field of information in crisis zones”.

The 2006 Condorcet-Aron Prize for “cultivation of independent radios notably in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Central African Republic, in Liberia, in Sudan, and in the Great Lakes Region”.

The 2010 Free Media Pioneer Award presented by the International Press Institute to Radio Okapi, honored as “a shining example, not only for media in other conflict or post- conflict areas, but for radio stations around the world.”

External links

Interview with Director Jean-Marie Etter, 2006 with Swiss Info

[1]

Official Website (in French): [2]

Help one of Fondaion Hirondelles project through Global Giving: [3]

Fondation Hirondelle USA [4]