The Foundation for West Africa

02/13/2022

On , TFWA celebrates the volunteers and staff of community radio stations and networks throughout West Africa! You are doing great work to inform people and encourage dialogue, especially during challenging times. Thank you for your energy and commitment to strengthening your community's well-being through radio broadcasts.

02/13/2021

TFWA congratulates all of our radio station and network partners on . Thank you for all that you do to build peace, democracy and hope in your communities and countries, Sierra Leona, Liberia and Senegal. And, keep up the great work battling the pandemic. You are essential to keeping people safe with accurate information!

02/23/2020

Report from Radio Tabadiane 94.0 FM in Goulumbu, Senegal.

It was an inspiring visit to this solar-powered, community-owned station in rural, eastern Senegal. TFWA VP Lamin Sarr and I met an impressive team of reporters and producers.

On a 105-degree day, we asked environmental reporter Ibrahaima Diallo about climate change. His response:

“People are aware of climate change, and we are very concerned about desertification. Tambacounda is very hot. We’ve had fires here. They get out of hand... I bring in experts, professors who teach these issues. They discuss tree cutting, desertification and other issues with the people. People are calling in. They are praising Radio Tabadiane.”

02/13/2020

About to board my flight to Senegal on this World Radio Day. I will join TFWA Vice President Lamin Sarr for a visit to Radio Tabadiane 94.0 FM in the Tambacounda region, way out east. Radio Tabadiane is a new, solar powered station (our first!) serving a remote, rural population of subsistence and cash-crop farmers. TFWA assisted the group Le Korsa from start to finish on this project. We're excited meet with the staff and board, along with the communities they serve.

08/23/2018

KISS 104 FM, "Radio Bo" in Bo, Sierra Leone.

In January, its broadcast tower collapsed into the studio after being hit by a fuel truck. The tower was ruined, and the transmitter and studio roof were badly damaged. TFWA donated funds to replace the transmitter, and rebuild the tower and roof.

04/20/2018

TFWA congratulates the staff and volunteers of Sierra Leone's Independent Radio Network (IRN) for rock-solid coverage of national elections, which concluded April 4th. In a tense, volatile environment, IRN provided accurate information and stability. Thank you, IRN!

Photo: Five days before the Election, Round 1: The team at Radio Bintumani 93.7 FM, Kabala, with TFWA vice-president Lamin Sarr and TFWA president Topher Hamblett.

04/03/2018

Vote counting is underway in Sierra Leone's presidential election runoff. Stay tuned for results.

For now, check out this blog post about radio coverage of the elections, and TFWA's role, in today's Providence Journal by Ed Fitzpatrick, Director of Media & Public Relations at Roger Williams University.

Amid the mounting pressure of a looming presidential election, they receive phone calls from high-ranking party officials. They receive bribe offers. They

03/21/2018

Returned from a great two-week visit to Sierra Leone with TFWA VP Lamin Sarr. We visited 9 radio stations, observed presidential elections (Round 1) and saw the Independent Radio Network (IRN) do standout election coverage throughout. Round 2, a runoff between the top two vote winners in Round 1, is scheduled for March 27th.

Photo: Voters in Kabala line up at the polls. Photo courtesy of Ali Kamanda and BIKO Studios

03/08/2018

National Election Update: Polls closed at 5 pm today in Sierra Leone. IRN is reading provisional results to its national audience, but it may take several days for the results to be deemed final. IRN's nationwide audience is being kept informed with the help of an internet/satellite radio link donated by TFWA.

Photos: A polling center in the Wellington neighborhood of Freetown; From behind the glass, IRN begins reading provisional election results

03/07/2018

The Independent Radio Network (IRN) hub in Freetown was buzzing with activity as producers, reporters and technicians prepared for National Elections. Equipment was installed and fine-tuned and production programming was completed. IRN is ready- coverage begins at 6 a.m.! Here are a few photos.