Forward Recording Base: Dungu
Campaign Details
Welcome to our campaign to establish “Forward Recording Base: Dungu,” a first-of-kind studio recording facility in the heart of the combat region affected by LRA violence in the Democratic Republic of Congo for producing “Come Home” songs and messages as well as safe surrender information to be broadcast on FM radio throughout the region. These broadcasts have had a tremendous effect on encouraging surrenders and defections from the LRA and in turn, are playing a huge role in bringing peace to the region.
Setting up FRB: Dungu as an operating base is a critical need and a key component of the Amplify Peace strategy. The video below has more information on that initiative.
Most of the LRA do have radios and do listen. Well over 50% say that the radio and the leaflets contributed to them coming out of the bush…This is working. I and my section will continue to support the efforts of The Voice Project, and we hope they receive the support they need. – Matthew Brubacher, a Political Affairs Officer for the United Nations in the Democratic Republic of Congo
The song was to all the people in the bush, and the song was full of mercy and forgiveness, for all the people who are in the bush to come out. I heard the song on the radio. When I heard the song I felt happiness in my heart, that surely people at home are really caring for us, that they are longing for us. Though I was abducted twice, that message was always still in my heart, that was the energy for my escape. – "Martin," 25 years old, Voice Project interview
We were dispersed in various groups. One of the Acholi songs played on the radio—‘the children of other people have returned home, mine has never resurfaced’—appealed to our hearts and we decided to plan to escape and return home to Uganda. – Choosing to Return: Challenges faced by the Lord’s Resistance Army’s middle-ranking commanders, Conciliation Resources Report
I escaped because of messages broadcasted through DUNGU MONUC Radio calling us to come out of the bush without being afraid of anything and explaining that we'll not be persecuted while coming out of the bush. A Captain opened his FM Radio close to me for information and thought that I would not hear the news. These messages encouraged me to decide on how to escape since it was broadcasted in Acholi language. – “Susan,” 19 years old, MONUSCO Ex-combatant debriefing
More FM stations are being built in the combat affected region, but just as critical as the towers is the actual programming that goes out over their airwaves. The Voice Project is working with the UN to set up the studio outpost for making these recordings that will also serve as a central base for deploying mobile recording and broadcast production teams into the field to record local messages of peace and forgiveness to encourage more to come out of the bush. While The Voice Project has provided a mobile FM broadcast unit operated around the Dungu region and currently maintains an online distribution hub that serves as a content distribution point for a number of agencies and local FM stations in the region, allowing broadcasters to download pre-produced “Come Home” programming, this recording base will allow us to greatly increase the amount of content being distributed and fill a real need on the ground.
We're running this campaign for the month of June, our goal is $40K to set up the studio space, fund the recording equipment, and to outfit a mobile team, provide medical evacuation insurance for our people on the ground. Please help us make this happen, it is sorely needed!
Contribute to this campaign by:
1. DONATING. Please provide any support you can. No donation is too big or too small!
2. JOINING OUR CAMPAIGN. Help us by starting your own fundraiser. Host an event, run 10km, have a bake sale, the possibilities are endless!
Here's a breakdown of the operational costs for Forward Recording Base: Dungu:
Month=$7,500
Week=$1,850
Day=$260
The budget includes studio space, recording and mixing equipment, internet connection, satellite phone and medical evacuation insurance. You can choose to support a day, week, or month of operations at FRB: Dungu and make that the goal for your fundraiser!
3. SHARING. Tell everyone you've ever met (even that person from the bar last night) about this campaign through email, facebook, and twitter.
Thank you so much for your help, it will go a long way in letting LRA soldiers know that they are forgiven and welcomed home.
Find out more about The Voice Project at our website! Also, get connected with us on facebook and twitter!
