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Upgrading Valley FM Radio

Year when project approved: 
2014
Approved budget: 
US$19 000.00

Valley FM is a community-based radio that broadcasts from Worcester, Western Cape, where radio is the most accessible and cost-effective communication medium for the mostly farm-dwelling residents. As of 2013, the station had 121,000 listeners across 28 towns in a region where community issues are marginalized in media coverage by the national broadcaster. Valley FM broadcasts in three languages - Afrikaans (80%), isiXhosa (15%) and English (5%) – and covers local concerns that may not feature in national news, such as domestic violence and teenage pregnancy. The station also has a strong focus on local heritage and cultural events, giving free airtime to community choirs, drama groups and events that express the local culture. In addition, it bridges the divide between policymakers and rural constituencies, regularly bringing concerns regarding service delivery raised by rural dwellers to the attention of decision-makers.
 

Valley FM faces a lack of active participation from some needy communities who lack recording and production facilities. With just one studio and set of equipment to carry out all activities, it is difficult to meet production and delivery deadlines and hence to cover breaking news or produce in-depth stories in a timely manner. This proposal is for funding for basic radio news equipment, which will go a long way in enabling Valley FM to respond to and disseminate local news and to provide a local perspective on national events. 

Documents
Full project description: 
SouthAfrica_project_proposal.pdf
Full implementation report: 
SouthAfrica_implementation_report.pdf
Project details
IPDC Bureau meeting nº: 
58

Implementation status :

Project evaluated:

Project scope:

IPDC Priority:

Budget
Budget code: 
354GLO5002.30

Source of funds:

Beneficiary
Beneficiary name: 
Valley fm
Beneficiary description: 

Valley FM Radio was formed by the communities of the Breede River Valley in 1996 to give a voice to the previously oppressed masses of Worcester and surrounding towns. It has a board of directors consisting of five members who are the guardians of our broadcast license and who oversee that the mandate given by the communities is realised. The Radio applied for a broadcast license in 1998 and was, after a long and arduous process, finally granted a license in December 2003 Valley fm’s current footprint embraces more than 121 000 listeners in the Breede Valley (SAARF, July 2013) - one of the highest average daily community station listenerships in the Western Cape. An ABC Ulwazi survey also found that Valley fm is the most ‘listened to’ station throughout the area, over and above commercial stations such as KFM, Radio 2000, Umhlobo Wenene, and SA FM. Considered a leader among community stations, Valley fm has been the only Western Cape local radio station invited to cover parliament’s State of the Province address and to host its 7-day transmission to other stations; and frequently initiates OB link-ups, broadcasting from key events to neighbouring stations. The station has been requested on a regular basis to produce PSA’s (public service announcements) for various government departments, to distribute to regional stations.

Beneficiary address: 
P.O. Box 1467 Worcester, Western Cape

Beneficiary country:

Beneficiary phone: 
+27 233477096

Beneficiary type:

Location and contacts
UNESCO
Responsible UNESCO Regional advisers: 

Lydia Gachungi

UNESCO Field Office:

Project contacts: 

Francois Marais, Valley fm Station Manager & Lydia Gachungi (APO), UNESCO Windhoek Office

Project place: 
Worcester, Western Cape, South Africa

Project region:

Follow-up and achievments
Summary of the project implementation: 

The required equipment was purchased and installed. The equipment includes an electronic logging system for the storage of recordings and programmes broadcasts.
 
20 Valley FM staff members, correspondents and volunteers were trained on production techniques, advanced news gathering techniques and use of new equipment. High quality programmes focusing on developmental and educational issues of local public concern were then produced and broadcasted. The training has enhanced the effectiveness and efficiency of the community radio in addressing the issues of public concern in a professional and timely manner.
 
The project achieved the set objectives. Valley FM acquired the required equipment to function effectively and efficiently. At the same time, the journalists, correspondents and volunteers were equipped with the necessary skills to deliver quality programmes that benefit the community members.