Zane Visits PA

We were recently honoured by a visit from our good friend Zane Ibrahim.  Zane is the founder of our partner organisation 'Bush Radio' in Cape Town, South Africa.  Bush is a wonderful community radio station run mostly by young people, which serves the communities around Cape Town, and in particular the townships of the Cape Flats.  Zane has also been instrumental in the creation of community radio projects around the world, and in particular in developing countries, and countries affected by armed conflict.

Zane talked about Bush Radio and the work they do there, and the principles behind his approach to community radio.  The group who came to hear him speak are interested in the idea of radio as a vehicle for the civic engagement of young people in Northern Ireland.  Commenting on a visit to Bush in 2000, Paul Smyth, Public Achievement Director said, "I was amazed by what they do at Bush on very little resources.  It struck me that if Zane could make this happen in South Africa with all the difficulties it faces, why couldn't we have something this good in Northern Ireland with all of its many resources?"

Zane also spoke to a group of young people from the WIMPS Crew, and inspired them to put passion into their work, and to use compassion when conducting interviews with politicians and others.  Public Achievement hopes to do a collaborative project with Bush Radio this year around our Away from Violence work, and to strengthen links between WIMPS and local PA groups and the young people in Cape Town with whom Bush works.  Young people in South Africa face some of the highest levels of violence in the world, and it is inspiring to see the passion and commitment they have to reducing violence in their communities.  You can view a number of short films created by young people in South Africa on the WIMPS site.