Testimonials

Nestor Oller, President, Netri Foundation

"I never thought that a radio, which apparently is not a first need product, had such a great effect in terms of social impact. The radio can be a extremely useful device for those in extreme need since it gives them information that turns to be vital. They may be starving, but they are also hungry for knowledge. Information on health, agriculture, education..etc., helps them take decisions that improve directly their standard of leaving, even if they still sleep on the floor...  

But what struck me the most were the other side effects  which actually turned to be the main benefit: the emotional side of the program:  Listening to the radio and learning from it makes them feel active part of society avoiding the feeling of falling behind. On the other side, when an orphan tells you that the radio soap opera main characters are a bit like their parents since when they listen to them they learn values, feel accompanied, don't feel any fear at night anymore and things like that, it's then, when you feel you are making a difference."

Frank Arnold, Rotary Fundraiser for Learning at Taonga Market project in Zambia

"I travelled to Lusaka to meet the partners in the project - World Vision, UNDP, YMCA,Peace Corps, Women for Change and the Educational Broadcasting Service. It was a pleasure to meet all of them and hear of their progress and development. I was further impressed by the way the documentation for every single Lifeline radio is formalised with each partner knowing exactly where each one is. It gave me great confidence in the proper use and record of our donation."

Valentine, 14-year-old Head of Household in Musanze, Rwanda

“I used to think that people only get infected with HIV/AIDS during sex; but after listening to different health programmes on the radio, I have realised that there are other ways of contracting the disease. Through the radio I have also learnt to take my education seriously and to follow my classes in school. Some of her neighbours pay school fees but do not go to class, as they do not realise the importance of education; but I do."

JustWorld International researchers evaluating the Lifeline radio in the UNCHR camps in Tanzania

"Every custodian interviewed uses the radio for basic education and news and believes that the Lifeline radio has vastly improved the quality of his or her life, despite their difficult living circumstances. Ninety-four percent of girls are satisfied with their access to Lifeline radio and listening groups. The Lifeline radio plays a multi-faceted role in the lives of the refugees: it is an advisor, informer and educator."

Tom Hanks, actor and US Ambassador for the Freeplay Foundation

"The beauty of the Freeplay Foundation is the radio itself. You wind it up and listen. That's it. The first time I heard of the device, then had one, I felt like I was carrying all the promise of the modern world in my hand. Music can come out of the sky without batteries being tossed into the land. Information can be sent and received, bypassing despots and tyrants. Voices of freedom can be heard and the creation of artists can be enjoyed anywhere radio waves can reach. All by winding up this little box. That is extraordinary."

Jean Olivier, 15-year-old Head of Household in Rwanda

"My brother and I live alone. We go on Wednesdays to the market and beg.  On a good day we make RF300 (about 50 cents).  We decided that we would go to Kigali to live on the street so we could make more money. But then we heard a radio programme about the all dangers for street children and how they get exploited by city people.  Even though we are very poor and are often hungry, at least we feel safe here."

Dame Anita Roddick, Co-founder, The Body Shop

"Freeplay radios are one of the most socially responsible products I have ever come across. It gives people the tools of communication, to get out of poverty and to connect. This product also minimises the impact on the environment as it doesn't run off of toxic batteries. Connecting villages to the majority of the world through continual access to information will help improved the lives of the rural poor."

Mukakrimba, 13, head of household and survivor of the genocide, Rwanda

"My most important thing I owned used to be my goat, now it is my radio."

Fanwell Besa, Writer/Producer for the Educational Broadcasting Service, Zambia

"The Freeplay wind up radios are of great benefit to our education programmes. In the areas where children are using wind-up radios, the programme is experiencing no problems at all. The teachers wind it up or put it in the sun and can listen to the lessons. In the areas where there are no Freeplay radios, there are big problems because there is no money for batteries."

Search for Common Ground, Burundi

"It goes without saying that 500 radios alone will not cause a turning point in the Burundian conflict. Nevertheless, by strategically distributing wind-up radios and promoting their programmes aimed at ethnic reconciliation and peace-building, the Women's Centre and Studio Ijambo will be able to reach portions of Burundian society that are currently cut off from reliable sources of information and therefore particularly vulnerable to manipulation and control."

Rev Morais Quissico, United Methodist Church Projects Co-coordinator, Mozambique

"These radios are very helpful for the populations who can follow everything that is going on in an emergency including advice on matters such as prevention and treatment of diseases to which they are vulnerable. There have been several known cases of people who have saved their lives after having heard how cholera and malaria can be prevented and treated through the radio's programme."

A UNICEF report notes:

“The main objective pursued through the distribution of radios was to encourage vulnerable children to interact and integrate with the community as well as increase their access to information.  The donation of the radios has undoubtedly had a positive impact on the lives of the children that benefited from the distribution.  UNICEF acknowledges the positive impact that radios may have on the lives of children and is grateful to the Freeplay Foundation for the considerable efforts it deploys to ensure the availability of this product.”

Suz Simard, Senior Pedagogy Specialist, Education Development Center

"Through the use of these radios, we are able to provide quality basic education to children and young people who have never been able to attend formal primary schools.  Without these radios, most of the centres and schools would not be able to listen Mambo Elimu.  Centres do not have radios and communities cannot afford batteries.  We also find that the children really enjoy winding the radios!"

Chantal, 16, looks after two younger brothers.  The boys go to school but she does not.  Their father was killed in the genocide and their mother died of malaria.

“My life was miserable before I had this radio.  We were isolated and didn’t have any way to get information. Every day we listen to the news from our region and the world, the weather and also I get the time.  I especially like programmes about caring for children and AIDS. I worry about AIDS. Neighbours used to treat us badly, but now they come around to listen and we are friends.”