Promoting rural youth engagement through radio and cell phones in Burundi

For several weeks, local radio waves transmitted an unusual program in Burundi. This time, by combining radio and cell phones, the marginalized youth from rural Burundi received a chance to express their views on a series of issues that affect their daily lives. A rap song, composed with key findings of the study “Voices of the Youth” and the "Governance Survey," served as background of this pioneer and different approach, transmitted by Radio Publique Africaine.

Cell phones and radio were a way of outreaching places where information hardly makes its way, as well as to engage leaders in rural communities in debates about information obtained through studies that are hardly disseminated among the locals.

Voices of the Youth, Peter Uvin’s study, shows how the youth in Burundi are copying with the harsh realities of a post-conflict environment -in a landlocked Central African country that suffered genocide similar to the one in neighboring Rwanda.  The findings of this study present incredible evidence on how social and economic dynamics combined with poverty could increase the risk for the country to relapse into conflict.

Soon after Uvin’s study was completed, a participatory survey on the state of governance was conducted nationally in Burundi. Households, public sector officials, private firms and nongovernmental organizations were asked about their experiences with governance issues, such as access to basic services, access to public information, the rule of law and corruption. Both studies collected a vivid reflection of the constraints that the population and the youth face to make a better living.

Working with local media and local NGO’s that support youth initiatives, eleven radio programs were developed.  Panel discussions transmitted through the radio included local authorities, the Minister of Good Governance, local human rights organizations and the “Bashingantahe” (traditional justice).

Using cell phones, one youth called in the radio station after the panel discussion on the justice system: “the functioning of our justice system is dramatic. We face an official justice system that is illegal because it does not respect procedures and the law at all levels. It is a labyrinth with many entries and exits.”

“The conditions of the teachers are really bad, they have classrooms with 90 students and no school materials, the long distances that us the girls often have to walk, with not even water to drink on the way to school or when we get there. We are usually late to class because we have to do house chores reserved for the girls. So in class the students are in a bad mood and the teachers as well”, said another caller.

“For us the youth it is not easy to find a job. You have to pay at least twice the monthly salary of the position advertised in cash if you want to get a job, and before the signature of the contract, otherwise they tell you that you don’t have enough experience. Corruption is so widespread that you do not know anymore if it caused by individual abuse or if it is a government policy”, expressed a youth over the phone.  According to the UN, Burundi has one of the lowest urbanizations rates in Africa, and is among the ten countries in the world with the highest percentage of working age youth.
 
Outreaching and giving voice to the youth is critical to ensure that development policies address their needs. Basic but widely available technology, such as radio and cell phones might be the right tools in a country where fixed phone lines and internet access is limited.