Well done on your first half marathon! How’d you find it?

It was a bit daunting, if I’m honest. I signed up for the Farnborough Winter Half Marathon, which was pushed back to July due to Covid-19 (trust me to run a winter half in the summer!) It was a beautiful day, though. The track is set around the famous Farnborough Air Show – it was pretty cool setting off from under the husk of an old hanger!

I noticed when you all began running, everyone looked down at their wrists and started their smartwatches.

Absolutely! It was funny running around the bits of the track without bystanders because you could hear the various bleeps of watches — you could tell who measures in kilometres and who preferred miles!

How’s the training been?

Hard, but good fun! I’ve been doing interval training for the past few months. During the weekdays, I’ve done shorter distances mixed in with strength training. The weekends have been longer runs, anywhere between 10-18kms. And whenever possible, I’ve pulled dad (Jon) out onto the water to get some kayaking and core work in!

Jon and Amy making the most of UK sunshine with kayaking cross-training

Sounds like a good variety of stuff. With all of that pre-work, how long did your half marathon take you?

I ran it in 1:52:34. I was aiming for a sub-two-hour run, so I was pretty chuffed with that!

That’s awesome. Tell me why you dedicated your run to Amplifying Voices?

This charity is particularly close to my heart. I love the passion for seeing peoples’ lives transformed through the support of their own local communities. I love that it is ‘grassroots’, empowering the communities to identify their own key needs and face them head-on – many voices coming together as one. I love their creativity in finding culturally relevant solutions to meet each identified need – addressing issues such as health, social injustice, education, and so many more.

With that answer, I’m sure you had plenty of people supporting you!

The support and generosity have been astounding. When I set up the fundraiser, I set a goal of £500. Last I checked, we’ve collectively raised £1,730, and that’s without gift aid. I am overwhelmed by the incredible support from family and friends and glad that it’s all going to help Amplifying Voices.

It’s a tremendous collective effort. Thanks, Amy!

Would you like to become an #AmplifyChampion for Amplifying Voices?

We want to celebrate supporters who go over and above, helping us realise our vision to see communities live life in all its fullness. Have you been telling people about Amplifying Voices? Have you raised some money for our projects through a bake sale? Or maybe running is your thing, too! Or, if you’d like to do something and need some support, we’d love to hear from you. Email alice@amplifyingvoices.uk, and we’ll get you on your way to becoming an #AmplifyChampion

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Dennis is from the New England area of the capital. His neighbourhood is teeming with people. After hundreds of thousands flocked to Freetown following the civil war, people made do with homes lacking basic facilities like running water or electricity. Unemployment remains high, and the economy struggles on. Dennis could see the need but wasn’t sure what he could do.

Amplifying Voices partners with the Believers Broadcasting Network (BBN)* in Sierra Leone. Together, we’re supporting a community project named Amplifying Voices through SALT to strengthen community health, wellbeing, and resilience.

Gathering together a strong group of volunteers from the community, clinic, and churches, the SALT team goes out to seven areas of Freetown and regularly meets people in their homes. The team listen to people’s concerns, strengths, and hopes.

It was during one of these visits that Dennis met the team. The SALT ethos – Strengthen, Amplify, Listen and Transform – resonated with Dennis, and soon he became a regular volunteer.

Speaking to his community, Dennis was passionate to do something about the water situation in the New England district. But he knew he couldn’t do it alone. It takes a shift in community mindset to make lasting change.

Dennis began encouraging other young people to get involved. The SALT team, BBN, and Amplifying Voices continues to help people build on their strengths to influence change. BBN featured Dennis on a few of its radio programs, where he echoed local stories and challenges people faced with the lack of water. By representing his community, he invites others to become part of the change they want to see.

Since coming on board, Dennis has proactively engaged with the Ministry of Water to get access to more deprived settlements of Freetown. As a result, this has recently lead to the installation of several water tanks and wells.

Celebrating Dennis’ enthusiasm and example, the SALT team is reporting more community members engaging in these kinds of initiatives.

Stories like this encourage the other communities to invite the SALT team in, demonstrating the power of community-centred media to others. People are being empowered to champion their own social change.

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The featured image of this article is representational.

*BBN set up the SALT ministry in 2015 in response to the devastating Ebola outbreak which heavily weakened Sierra Leone’s already fragile health system. SALT is a strengths-based approach to improving health and promoting community healing, integrated with radio broadcasts.

The post An Everyday Hero of Freetown appeared first on Amplifying Voices.

Communities in Sierra Leone are feeling it too. Ransford Wright, Founder and Chief Executive of our partner the Believers Broadcasting Network (BBN)* gives us an update:

‘Currently, we are on restricted movement in and out of Freetown. The major feeling in the community is still around mental health and economic challenges. There is no government bailout here, so making a living is a serious challenge.’

Wright says there has been a reduction in the sense of community togetherness and trust.

Physical distancing not only prevents people from seeing loved ones; it also heightens feelings of isolation and separation. Due to increased restrictions, the regular SALT project community visits have been stopped. Community members have expressed how much they miss these visits.

The SALT team of volunteers continue to reach out to their actively engaged communities. While Covid has prevented some community initiatives, new stories are emerging about the resilience people are showing at this challenging time.

SALT volunteers continue to help communities struggling through Covid isolation. This image was taken before coronavirus hit Sierra Leone.

Community-centred initiatives

In one of the nine communities, the Mohtomeh neighbourhood, a women’s group has started a cooperative to help each other through the crisis. Pooling together shared resources; they are distributing food, healthcare, and supporting small businesses. They are also actively caring for the most vulnerable in their community.

BBN radio has amplified their story as it is an excellent example of a community-centred initiative. Mohtomeh was an area decimated by the 2017 mudslides, but people have banded together to improve their community. BBN radio hopes to encourage other communities to start building up their initiatives again.

Feeling heard in a crisis

BBN is looking to start a new radio drama series to help communities. The radio drama will focus on relevant social issues, such as unemployment, poor mental health, teenage pregnancy, and water shortages. These are the topics that come up in conversations when listeners phone into BBN’s phone counselling service. Continuing to talk to, listen to, and support the local community members is more critical than ever.

Storytelling and radio drama work really well in Sierra Leone as it evokes a lot of listener response. In a context where many feel unheard, community-centred media helps people feel heard:

Someone heard my concern. It mattered. And they talked about it on the radio.

To read more news about our partner-led project in Sierra Leone, click here.

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*BBN set up the SALT ministry in 2015 in response to the devastating Ebola outbreak which heavily weakened Sierra Leone’s already fragile health system. SALT is a strengths-based approach to improving health and promoting community healing, integrated with radio broadcasts.

The post Sierra Leoneans prevail through Covid isolation appeared first on Amplifying Voices.

Sierra Leone had its first reported Covid-19 case at the end of March 2020. However, in the first seven months of the outbreak, there were more malaria deaths than coronavirus deaths. People are increasingly distrustful of the government as the impact of Covid-19 has not yet been as bad the authorities said it would be.

In this context, rumours, fake news, and misinformation have been spreading, which have caused fear and panic. There is a general unease about transmission, following the Ebola epidemic that plagued Sierra Leone for two years. Some have suggested that coronavirus is a tool for the government to make money from the World Bank, while others believe it is a punishment from God or the result of 5G technology. Some believe that Covid-19 is a myth, and some think that African people are safe from the virus as it cannot survive warmer climates.

Dismantling misinformation in Sierra Leone

Our partner, the Believers Broadcasting Network (BBN), has been working hard to tackle misinformation and get the community talking.

BBN utilised Amplifying Voices’ tools to set up the ‘SALT’ project, and have been running it since 2015. SALT* volunteers have maintained regular contact with community members through telephone calls and WhatsApp messages to support them through the pandemic. Radio interviews have been conducted over the phone, keeping listeners well-informed of each community’s developing situation.

Providing essentials items amid Covid-19

Physical visits into the communities are now restricted. But volunteers have managed to reach several households to provide some practical relief. Sixty homes received bags of rice, locally-made washable face masks, and handwashing buckets with taps, helping people survive at this extremely challenging time.

By caring for the communities’ health and wellbeing, the SALT volunteers seek to build people’s confidence and resilience to address the challenges they face, like coronavirus. We want to ensure reliable information is being provided, constructive dialogue continues to occur, and community fears and concerns are heard.

To read more news about our partner-led project in Sierra Leone, click here.

*BBN set up the SALT ministry in 2015 in response to the devastating Ebola outbreak which heavily weakened Sierra Leone’s already fragile health system. SALT is a strengths-based approach to improving health and promoting community healing, integrated with radio broadcasts.

The post Combating Covid-19 in Sierra Leone appeared first on Amplifying Voices.

Our previous name, ‘Health Communication Resources (HCR)’, reflected our roots in health promotion. However, in the UK and Pakistan, we wanted a name that helps people visualise what we do. We needed a name that connects our use of media with how broader change happens in communities; to be a bridge between the concepts.

Bridging the gap with a new name

We continue to pursue the same vision as we seek to see communities live life in all its fullness, free from poverty, injustice, and conflict. ‘Amplifying Voices’ helps epitomise our process of equipping communities to speak out and be heard in order to take the lead in their own development.

Our role is to come alongside communities and listen. It’s then we can empower people to find what media solutions work in their local contexts. We help train them on how to utilise tools and strategies to their full potential so that the communities themselves can champion positive social change. This is our approach in every partner-led project, and so it seemed fitting to have a name that grasps the concept.

What is a partner-led project?

A typical community-centred media project brings together community members, service providers, and media organisations to create content. The media content can be anything from a podcast talking about dental hygiene benefits to an informal chat where a community member shares their story. It’s designed to tackle issues that are raised by the community. This, in turn, gets people talking about their ideas and opinions and helps people hear others’ hopes and concerns. 

Our partners then use trusted communication channels to broadcast or distribute the content, to help them play a key role in mobilising inclusive, community led-initiatives. 

New name, but still part of a wider family

Amplifying Voices continues to be part of the international HCR family. Our Australian team will continue to be known as Health Communication Resources, as it reflects the well-established history of strong relationships with Australian public health service providers. 

As our vision and values remain unchanged, we continue to be a family sharing a common commitment: we’re taking the same approach in using community-centred media to further our mission.

What’s next? 

We are currently working with eight international projects, where community-centred media is making a positive impact. Exciting developments are happening in each of them, and we’d love to keep you updated as part of our supporting community! Click the yellow subscribe button on the top banner of this page (or scroll down a little further) to sign up for our newsletter.

Thanks for joining us in this new chapter of Amplifying Voices!

The post A new name for a new era appeared first on Amplifying Voices.

Amplifying Voices, formerly HCR, have been working in partnership with Seva Social Welfare Foundation in remote parts of India’s Maharashtra state, home to many indigenous groups known as Adivasis. The Adivasi community face prejudice from mainstream India and suffer poorer health. This is all changing with the innovative ‘speaker box’ project which is bringing important health information and education to households.

The post Adivasi Lives Matter appeared first on Amplifying Voices.

The dichotomy of India

India is the fastest growing economy in the world, yet when we went to pay for our hotel stay in Nashik, reception could not accept an international credit card. We experienced similar problems trying to withdraw cash from ATMs. As I upload this blog using 4G from my mobile hotspot, villages 10 kilometres from here do not have a sustainable water supply. It is such a bizarre phenomenon to be surrounded by all the technology of the modern age yet know basic needs for daily living are lacking around us. But there is an incredible opportunity here for positive social change using media.

Amplifying Voices is working with Seva Social Welfare Foundation to bring health, education, and social development through the “speaker boxes” project.The speaker-MP3 players, provided to every family in the village, are filled with informative and entertaining programmes to help alleviate the problems that come from dirty water, non-nutritional food, and lack of sanitation healthcare.

“Speaker boxes” making an astonishing impact

It is six months since the “speaker boxes” were first distributed, and already the impact is astonishing.

 “People are changing their habits. There is good hygiene now, people are boiling water, and there are fewer stomach problems than before,” says the Patil. He told us that the tribe learned how to construct a dam through the Adivasi Village Project.

“Without your programmes, we would have already run out of water.”

Patil Ramdas also told us that when the monsoon does arrive in June, and the reservoir begins to fill, the first rain collected in the dam makes people very sick. Seva is now supplying chlorine tablets to prevent cholera and other common diseases after the first rainfall.

But now the urgent need is to find a specialist on-the-ground group to come and aid the village – drilling a well would mean they never run out of water again.

Patil Ramdas is concerned for his community.

The post “Only 28 days until the water runs out!” appeared first on Amplifying Voices.

I’m Alice, a freelance journalist. Jon kindly invited me to document this trip. I’m primarily here to take photos and videos, but I’d love to share my experiences with you as I walk alongside Amplifying Voices and Seva to the Adivasi villages of Maharashtra.

I’ve never been to India before. I have experienced snippets of the culture when visiting the homes of my Indian friends. But it is such a vast country of over a billion people. There are 22 official languages spoken here; cities are filled with the descendants of countless tribes. It’s a country of reliance – it has endured foreign invaders, colonialism, and numerous natural disasters. But today, India has the fastest growing economy in the world. Towns are melting pots of multiculturalism, as I discovered when we arrived in Nashik, three hours north-east of Mumbai.

Holy man sells talismans under the shade of an umbrella, while people bathe in the River Ganges

Welcome to Nashik

Old and new clash together in Nashik. The rise of Western secularism and technology is somehow moulded to fit in with the ancient, predominantly Hindu city. Modern medicine and black magic dolls are used together; gaudy fashion shop signs depict scantily clad women, yet inside you can find the most beautiful saris and kurtas (tunics); cows and tuk-tuks dominate the streets.

The city is home to Seva’s headquarters, headed by Shilpe Shinde, Chief Executive of the Foundation. It is an ideal location as it is a gateway city for many Adivasi tribes with a close, cosmopolitan link to Surgana – the main town situated within the Adivasi territory. The transport links and resources available in Nashik mean the team is readily equipped for work in the remote villages.

Adivasi family outside their mud and straw house in a typical village in Maharashtra

Visionary partners

Amplifying Voices and Seva began working together in January 2018. Seva’s vision is to see positive educational, health, and social development in the Adivasi villages of Maharashtra. The social class system does not even consider the Adivasi; they are the often overlooked indigenous tribes who are living in some of the most remote areas of India with many villages receiving little help from the government. Their illnesses are due mainly to poor water, sanitation, and hygiene as well as harmful superstitious practices.

It’s for that reason that Amplifying Voices and Seva set up the Adivasi Voices project, where audio content on “speaker boxes” support field activities such as health and sports camps. The speaker-MP3 players, provided to every family, are filled with local-dialect dramas, music and audio programmes that educate, inform, and entertain. The project is an innovative way to help communities that are isolated from mainstream Indian society with no means to access basic needs.

Six months on

After an initial base-line survey, the Adivasi Voices Project began in September 2018. Now six months on, Jon is excited to learn how successful the project has been, identify areas to be improved, and encourage the dedicated Seva team in their endeavours.

We will be journeying from Nashik to Surgana tomorrow, spending six days there and visiting two villages that have been Seva’s focus for the past six months.

Thanks for reading and joining us on this journey. Stick around for updates!

The post The Road to Maharashtra appeared first on Amplifying Voices.