This sounds like a very difficult situation. All of our media partners are facing financial challenges, political pressure and lots of misinformation. How do we support our media partners and their journalists in this environment?

Arnold Felix-Elba: Training is key. We have three areas of work: We have trained fact-checkers to run the iVerify platform, a UNDP-created platform run by members of the Sierra Leone Association of Journalists and the Independent Radio Network, which helps separate truth from fiction. We have been running training sessions around the country, providing local journalists and social media influencers with the skills to help them understand the tactics, motivations behind information disorder, and how to detect and debunk it – as well as issues of safety and security for those covering elections. And we are also running training sessions for marginalised groups who are often left out of discussions around misinformation and media literacy – to ensure they understand how to detect false and misleading information, and what to do if they come across it.

Can you tell me a bit more about the iVerify platform, which is run by local journalists to address some of the misinformation that has been circulating? It’s addressed more than 40 rumours and false stories so far!

Marian Tina Conteh: We have been providing the training for the factcheckers who run the platform. It is operated as a local initiative; we do not own or run it ourselves. But it is making a huge impact with journalists and audiences. Now, when people come across some new information they’ll often ask if it should be fact-checked. And yes, they need to, especially if they think the information is not correct or if you’re not sure.

Arnold: To give you an example, there’s a popular social media commentator who put out a claim that parliament had closed and that the sitting president was no longer president. This was widely circulated online, but the information was completely false - because the constitution doesn't say that. The iVerify platform was able to demonstrate that claim was completely false and misleading.

Could you tell me more about the training we have been working on?

Arnold: Our job has been to train journalists, social media influencers and bloggers on mis- and disinformation and in media literacy. That’s what we’re focused on.

And we’ve had some wonderful testimonies about the value of our work. In one session, we discussed how promoting false information could even destabilise the democracy of Sierra Leone.

Marian: We did several sets of training, right across the country. We identified some of the main blogs in the country, and trained bloggers as well as journalists from our partner radio stations. We’re also preparing training for people living with disabilities and youth groups, because we know they often don’t get any media literacy training. Surveys often show that young people are perpetrators of misinformation.

We’ve also seen fewer female journalists taking part in the training. So we’re planning to arrange more training focused on them, for both traditional and digital media. 

The reactions have been really encouraging. Our participants say they now understand much more about the responsible use of social media, and some of the journalists have organised programmes and social media campaigns about media literacy and the danger of false and misleading information for their audiences. One blogger told us, “I thought I knew a lot in this field, but the training convinced me that I did not. I can now identify untrue news stories or fake news.”

Another blogger called the training “an exciting learning experience”.

“Survival is critical for a young guy like me, and to tell the truth, we receive huge money from politicians to spread mis/disinformation. Before this training, I did not know the impact of my actions, but from now on, I will be mindful of what I post and share online.”

Larry, can you tell us about the work we’ve been doing on social media to support this training?

Larry Tucker: During elections, people use Facebook as the main platform and it’s the place where the political parties propagate their propaganda. People then post and share incorrect information. So we’re working to help audiences understand how to use Facebook properly, how to protect themselves online and know what misinformation is.

We want people to understand how they can verify what they see online so they don’t fall victim to propagating propaganda messages. We've done a series of public service announcements with local comedians. These are interesting, entertaining, and give a clear message. They’ve performed very well on our Facebook page.

With less than two weeks left in the campaign, what is next?

Arnold: Because we are partners with Sierra Leone’s Independent Radio Network, we’ve been helping them form ideas for their 30-minute programmes that talk about mis- and disinformation. And as part of our training, we’ll continue to give support in producing their shows.

BBC Media Action Sierra Leone can be found on Facebook @bbcmediaactionLS and on Twitter @bbcmasl. Read more about our work in the country on our website and learn more about the iVerify platform in Sierra Leone.

“I sometimes used to sit and cry but then feel determined at the same time to change my situation from what society perceives [about] people living with disability – that we’re not able to do anything in life. Some parents [even] refer to their disabled children as ‘half pikin’ (half child),” Madi Sefoi tells our radio presenter Marian Tina Conteh.

In Sierra Leone, many people live with different forms of disabilities, but often girls in wheelchairs are seen begging from people passing by in cities around the country.

We met Madi on a production visit to the south of Sierra Leone for our radio programme Wae Gyal Pikin Timap (When a Girl Child Stands). Thousands of girls are out of school in Sierra Leone, so the show aims to turn up the volume on the barriers to education. Increasingly, we identify the issues for girls living with disabilities and give them the opportunity to tell their stories on air and discuss challenges.

We sometimes bring girls to our studio to present alongside our presenter, by acting as the presenter’s friend. We interviewed Madi as a co-host when we visited her province to record with our partner radio stations. She told us that growing up in Bo City (known as ‘Gari town’) wasn’t easy,

‘’I had to put up with the difficulties of going to a public school which was not disabled-friendly in terms of moving around the compound. I used to feel discouraged to be crawling among thousands of students.”

People living with disabilities faced lot of discrimination in their daily lives, she said. Often, families, communities, and society see them as a burden. Some people treat them with disrespect and sometimes mock, provoke, laugh, or call them names like ‘gbenkelenkie’ (bend foot), or believe they are a result of witchcraft or are a curse on their family.

“Transport to go to school and other places was always a nightmare for me because I had to be taken off my wheelchair and helped into it again. People look low at me and that makes me feel unhappy,” Madi continues.

She describes that she finished high school and took the West Africa Senior Secondary Certificate Examination (WASSCE) but unfortunately did not achieve the requirements for university. She wanted to re-sit but could not afford the entry fees for the exams.

Determined for change

“I decided to start doing something to raise money to be able to take care of myself and save some to fulfill my dream of re-sitting and going to college or do something meaningful in life,” says Madi.

She started plaiting hair for her family and because she was creative with different hair styles, she quickly had friends, family and new customers coming to see her every day. Her reputation grew, she told us people started calling her ‘Madi Sefoi the Bluffay’ (for us this means a lady who is well presented and immaculate), quickly she started earning enough to start taking care of her immediate needs such as food and clothes, and eventually enough to save for her next step.

After hearing an IT course advertised on the radio, Madi left Bo and traveled to Freetown to complete the course. She continued to plait hair to support herself and enrolled for a customer care training course back in Bo City. “I learned how to attend to people and how to manage my time as well,” says Madi. “With all these training experiences, I continue with my passion of plaiting hair… earning some income that I’m using to take care of myself and my immediate family.”

“Disability is not inability”

On our show, Madi told her story. She said people living with disabilities need people to give them attention, support, and encouragement. People should include girls living with disabilities in opportunities that are available to others – in her words “…our disability is not inability. Girls living with disabilities are greatly in need of those opportunities”.

She went further during her Wae Gyal Pikin Timap interview and called on government to address the issues of people living with disabilities, especially girls, to create more opportunities that are accessible and disabled friendly.

Inviting girls like Madi onto the radio programme helps shine light on the issues girls are facing as part of our project called Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient (EAGER). We identify issues affecting girls who are out of school, including those living with disability, and give them the opportunity to discuss and tell their stories, and most importantly to share their creative solutions.

Meeting Madi was truly inspirational. She featured in an episode called ‘’Disability not holding girls back’’ and we know by inviting young co-hosts on the show it’s helping other girls. Last year, our research found listeners find the programme engaging and they like Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap because it features girls in relatable, real-life situations about issues relevant to their lives, as well as potential solutions. I believe it is how our programmes focus on inspiring and empowering girls which makes the difference.


--

Mariama Sesay is a Senior Producer for BBC Media Action, Sierra Leone

Learn more about the EAGER project here 
Read our new commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion here

“The best person to advocate for a girl is the girl herself,” says 16-year-old Tamu in Sierra Leone.

Tamu is co-presenting on a special episode of BBC Media Action radio programme Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap (‘When a Girl Child Stands Strong’) to mark International Women’s Day 2021. The episode looks at this year’s theme - #choosetochallenge - through the eyes of girls: how girls see inequity in Sierra Leone, which everyday difficulties and imbalances most affect them, and how they would like those around them to stand with them on calling out these issues.

As a guest co-presenter, Tamu works alongside the show’s regular presenters, conducting interviews, helping to choose guests and introducing themes and segments.

Life can be tough for girls in Sierra Leone, who tend to have lower school attendance and higher drop-out rates than boys, as well as a high incidence of early marriage and early pregnancy.

The girls talk about inequality in education, where girls are not sent to school as frequently as boys, and the distribution of household chores which tend to fall to girls, as well as more serious issues like rape and early marriage.

Some girls in Sierra Leone say they don’t feel able to talk about inequities and challenges with adults around them. But in her role as co-presenter, Tamu encourages girls to find their voices and speak out, and calls on others to stand with them against inequality:

“If you try to advocate for yourself, then other people can come and help you. We can’t stand up on our own – we need everyone to stand up with us. But if we girls just sit back, people will think that we are okay with what is happening to us - when in reality we are really not okay.”

When a girl stands strong

Tamu is the latest young co-presenter in BBC Media Action’s girls’ empowerment radio show. Produced nationally, and broadcast weekly on over 60 radio stations in Sierra Leone, Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap is the show which sees the world through the stories and experiences of girls.

It aims to create a more positive and supportive environment around marginalised girls in Sierra Leone – particularly those who are not in education - by showing audiences what girls can achieve when they are valued, listened to, encouraged and given more equal opportunities.

It is a girl-led, girl-centred format that marks an innovative new approach to girls’ empowerment. “As a young girl, I wanted my voice to be heard,” says 17-year-old Mary, another recent co-presenter.

“Society thinks that it’s best to make decisions for us - but it’s the opposite. I hope parents, caregivers, and society listening to the programme will change their mindset about girls and will give girls the right and chance to make decisions.”

Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap focuses less on problems and more on solutions – including ideas and solutions which girls have found for themselves. The approach is changing the way girls are seen in their families and communities.

“Whenever I listen to the programme, I call to other children around the community - not just my daughter – to come and listen to the stories of their colleagues,” says one mother in the rural district of Kono. Her own teenage daughter has dropped out of school, but she feels inspired by the girls voices she hears in the show. “I love the program as they interview girls to tell their stories,” she told the BBC Media Action research team.

Choosing to challenge – by girls for girls

A father who listens to the programme calls his teenage son to join him when the show comes on: “The children they use to participate on air are very bold and I like that a lot. In fact, I use that to motivate my son. The most interesting part of the programme for me is when they involve the kids in it. It is very important, and it is a motivating factor for most kids around the district.”

As well as the national show, BBC Media Action journalism mentors are also training and supporting 18 local radio stations to produce their own local versions of the show – with the aim of showcasing local examples, services and solutions to help generate and spark community discussions around the issues raised.

It’s a first step towards changing the media culture in Sierra Leone, to put more voices of women and girls on air - and to allow girls themselves to lead discussions around girls’ empowerment.

For the girls who have taken part in the programmes, it already feels like that change is happening.

“Being on Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap was like being part of the new era already unfolding - and it felt great!” says 19-year-old Millicentia Boateng, another previous co-presenter. “Discussing girls’ issues is an inspiration especially to myself - to do more, live more and inspire more. I hope people who've heard me on the radio look at things from my eye’s view and protect girls.’’

--

Wae Gyal Pikin Tinap is part of the EAGER project – which is funded by UK Aid from the UK government. Learn more about the project here. 

Suddenly, we were faced with having to deliver the whole course remotely – during a pandemic - when it mattered more than ever. BBC Media Action has vast experience in Sierra Leone of training local journalists during the Ebola epidemic of 2014-15 – but that was delivered face-to-face. We’d never done anything like this via phone and internet connection – and neither had our partners.

It was daunting to say the least. Data coverage is improving but is far from perfect in Sierra Leone, particularly in more remote and rural areas. And with regular power cuts across the country, keeping mobile phones fully charged can be harder than in other parts of the world, but we all did our best.

As most stations don’t have fixed internet, we provided all participants with mobile phone data instead. Three platforms seemed the most appropriate to deliver the training: Zoom, WhatsApp and regular phone calls. But of course, there were challenges.

Turning on videos at least to say “hi” and see everyone’s faces definitely helped to build a sense of togetherness for the Zoom sessions. Often, we had to switch to audio-only after that, to accommodate the slow connection speed. But the training was still lively, vibrant and collaborative. 

When there were serious connection challenges – and there were several! – we made phone calls to complete the training modules. Flexibility and creativity were key to finding solutions for each group – but the general experience gave both us and our participants ideas for the future.

"I can’t say that its effectiveness surpasses our usual one-on-one meetings before the epidemic, but I strongly believe it’s a unique alternative for future production meetings and training sessions," said participant Kadiatu Tholley.

Kadiatu joined us from Advocacy Radio in Port Loko, one of the 31 different stations we ran the course with over an intense three-week period. At times it was challenging, but it was very rewarding. We know our partner stations are communicating better during COVID-19 right now, sharing content to protect vulnerable groups, so that audiences can better cope and adapt to protect themselves and their families. The role media plays in health emergencies is vital.

Now we’re drawing on what we’ve learned to help adapt other critical BBC Media Action projects. Our project called ‘EAGER’ (Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient) aims for out-of-school adolescent girls to have significantly improved learning outcomes and have transitioned to education, training or employment. We support 18 partner stations across the country to produce their own local radio shows. With travel restrictions likely to continue for some time, our usual model of travelling between stations will remain on hold. But now we have learnt – and shown the stations – that remote support and co-production is not only possible, it even has benefits.

Even once travel restrictions are lifted, some of these new methods will remain – because we found that remote mentoring works. We certainly won’t stop all travel, but we will reconsider how much time we spend in the field – to develop schedules that are time-effective, cost-effective, and effective in their learning outcomes too.

The beauty of discovering this way of working is that it will allow BBC Media Action to support more stations, more often. And by helping partners create more effective programmes, we’ll be better able to engage and empower audiences on vital development issues – even after the pandemic is over.

Mariatu and Victor are Journalism mentors for BBC Media Action in Sierra Leone
--

‘EAGER’ (Every Adolescent Girl Empowered and Resilient) is funded by UK AID from the UK Government – learn more here 

BBC Media Action delivers Lifeline programming in many countries around the world, you can learn more about this here.

Our COVID-19 handbook for media is available here and our guide for media on communicating in health emergencies is available in 13 languages here.

In special editions of these shows, we have focused on the novel coronavirus and provided audiences with information about what it is, how it is spread, how to protect yourself, what symptoms are, and what to do if you or someone you know develop those symptoms.

Our challenge now is to meet audiences’ needs for information about the novel coronavirus, while continuing our important focus on malaria prevention - debunking myths and increasing awareness about malaria. Half the world is still at risk from this deadly disease, which is both preventable and treatable. There were more than 200 million new cases of the disease in 2018, and a child still dies of malaria every two minutes.

Adapt, adjust and continue

As the COVID-19 pandemic dominates headlines and thoughts, we are rapidly adapting to this new context. Our radio programmes continue to emphasise the importance of early testing and early treatment for malaria, and we are providing clear, detailed information about the symptoms of malaria versus the symptoms of COVID-19. We’re also providing guidance about when to report to hospital for malaria testing, and when to self-isolate and call the emergency line.

We also know, from our research and our experience during and after the Ebola crisis, that people tend to fear and stay away from hospitals at times such as this, and may turn instead to traditional medicine. Our programmes inform audiences about measures in place at malaria treatment centres to ensure patients’ safety and protection, and remind audiences about the dangers of relying on traditional medicines instead of modern treatments for malaria. We also give updates on planned national programmes, like the next distribution of insecticide treated nets.

Our Facebook page is the most-liked page in Sierra Leone with over 500,000 followers; we are using this to post regular content from BBC Media Action's global response to COVID-19, including this animation about physical distancing and this interview on misinformation and how to identify it. We are also sharing infographics on symptoms and creating our own animations for our audiences about prevention methods.

And we are sharing real stories, like this family who are taking malaria prevention more seriously than ever, to continue to emphasise the importance of protecting ourselves against malaria, especially while the country is experiencing another public health emergency.

"While you are protecting yourself from COVID-19 you should also protect yourself from malaria… it kills fast" says Vandi Magona demonstrating the steps he takes to protect his family from malaria.

Dispelling fear and mistrust

We work hard to feature local voices, such as medical experts, local leaders or well-known entertainers, that people recognise and trust to help dispel fear. For this World Malaria Day, we will share a short video on our Facebook page from popular comedian Kindo Amani, who reminds audiences that it’s still important to work to prevent malaria and to seek early treatment.

And we continue to remind our audiences who is most at risk from malaria. Antenatal visits - where pregnant women receive intermittent preventative treatment - are as important as ever, as are vaccinations for children. We inform our audiences about the continued importance of these and how people can safely access them now.

These are unprecedented times, but we will continue to produce radio and social media content that people will engage with and most importantly trust about COVID-19 and about malaria – to ensure people know how to best protect themselves and their families.

--

Mary Morgan is Head of Production for BBC Media Action, Sierra Leone

Learn more about our global response to COVID-19 here
Tawa Fo Welbodi is supported by Comic Relief and GSK, you can find out more about the project here.

The show aims to stop people thinking of malaria as ‘normal’ and actively encourage mothers and fathers to become determined to end malaria in their homes and communities. And we’re determined to reach and engage pregnant women – who are particularly at risk - with every episode.

Our research tells us people regularly consult their social network when taking health decisions; women tend to consult a trusted older woman, their partner or a friend, whilst men tend to consult friends or traditional healers. So we need to reach these influential people too.

We know media has great power to deliver health messages – but beyond that we’ve learnt the importance of dialogue in helping to change attitudes and behavior. So, we’re sharing people’s stories and experiences on radio and social media, and inviting the audience to have their say.

As we join many others around world today in the battle against malaria we are more determined than ever about beating the disease in Sierra Leone.

--

Eastina Massaquoi is a presenter for BBC Media Action in Sierra Leone
Tawa Fo Welbodi is supported by a Comic Relief and GSK Partnership

For more about our response to the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis:

• Kicking Ebola out of Sierra Leone
• By bike, by bus and by boat - our Ebola radio show’s incredible bi-weekly journey across Sierra Leone

The stories from Dis Na Wi Voice are amplified on our Facebook page - the largest in the country. And quite often now we tell digital first stories. If we can't cover it on Dis Na Wi Voice we creatively tell it online.

What is important to them, is important to us.

True to it's name Dis Na Wi Voice was created to tell the the stories of women, by women, for women. The show's presenters, Eastina Massaquoi and Mariatu Kabba boldly bring women's issues to the fore, challenging stereotypes and inspiring women to take action to improve their own lives.

Everyday our team of passionate radio and social media journalists are examining the barriers preventing women and people with disability from making significant gains in their quest for representation and equality, both as prospective political candidates - and as voters.

While structural barriers remain the strongest force against women and people with disabilities seeking office in Sierra Leone, age-old myths and misconceptions also have a heavy influence on attitudes.

These entrenched beliefs won't change overnight but there are positive signs of progress. We spoke with Abu Bakarr, a listener in Kabala, northern Sierra Leone, who described how his prejudice changed after listening to Dis Na Wi Voice: "From what I have heard from the guests [on the show], I have understood that disability has nothing to do with witchcraft or a curse. If a disabled person runs for office and has all the qualifications that I am looking for, I will certainly vote them into any position in this country."

Pressing for progress

Challenges remain. Veteran campaigner Maude Peacock, spoke on Dis Na Wi Voice of her disappointment that although women made a strong statement of intent by putting themselves forward as potential candidates, they were denied party nominations. "It's sad, but we're not giving up," she said adding although women had been "shattered", they were not "battered" by the setback.

But women who are involved in politics are making it clear they are campaigning on an equal footing with male candidates. At a recent national debate BBC Media Action supported, women representing the leading political parties addressed important social and economic issues affecting the whole country, challenging traditional expectations that women only discuss women's issues.

For me and my team working on this project, we share Maude's mentality: the need to keep working, driven by the aspiration that we will one day experience shifts in attitudes that can bar women and people with disabilities from what every other Sierra Leonean enjoys-basic rights and equal opportunities.

We will keep pressing for progress.

--

Ed Kargbo is the Head of Production for BBC media Action in Sierra Leone

In Sierra Leone, where mudslides and floods have killed almost 400 and hundreds are still missing our team has been using their Facebook page, the most popular in the country, to provide information on how to access emergency numbers and centres where those affected can access food, clothing and other assistance.

We are also using Facebook to share advice on how people can keep their families safe by avoiding water contaminated by the flooding and prevent an outbreak of cholera or typhoid. And we’ve produced radio public service announcements on flood preparedness and cholera prevention as part of the Sierra Leone government’s communications response to the disaster that will be broadcast over the weekend.

Incessant monsoon rain has also caused widespread and deadly flooding in Nepal, Bangladesh and India which has left around 500 people dead and affected millions more.

Our team in Nepal has been working with BBC Nepali Service, national broadcaster Radio Nepal and other radio stations to address the urgent information needs of affected communities. Researchers have been contacting people in flood-affected areas using Facebook, email and phone to understand their priority information needs.

Mona Laczo, Country Director Nepal, said: "People have told us they need information on subjects including weather forecasts, personal and family safety, how to avoid snake bites and harmful insects, water purification, how to get medical assistance, who to contact for support, and how to create a temporary shelter."

"This feedback is then being fed into Lifeline programming, special media content for people who are facing humanitarian crises, which have been shared widely with BBC Nepali and local stations."

We have shared the research and Lifeline programming production manual - a guide for the media on how to help audiences affected by crises - with broadcast partners to inform their programming. Producers with Lifeline programming experience are providing coaching and mentoring support to Radio Nepal and training has also been provided to staff at Radio Kantipur. And we’re liaising with agencies mobilising humanitarian assistance on the ground and identifying opportunities to incorporate communications into their response.

The team are also working with The Association of Community Radio Broadcasters to assess the damage to local radio stations and approaching organisations who may be able to provide new equipment to get them back on air.

In Bangladesh, pre-developed advice and guidance specially designed for Facebook has been published on our own channels and through partner organisations with big online followings.

"We are supporting local and national radio stations to broadcast life-saving information." says Richard Lace, Country Director in Bangladesh. 

“We’re also creating a ‘pool’ of audio content aimed at providing advice and support to immediately flood-affected people through radio stations but also likely to be used initially through loudspeakers attached to boats because road communication in affected areas is getting increasingly difficult."

The team will act as a temporary ‘humanitarian communications agency’ for other organisations – providing coordinated, consistent audio and graphic materials on a range of topics including obvious things like water purification as well as less obvious topics like access to maternity care in flooded areas. These outputs are designed to help other humanitarian agencies integrate communication techniques into their response in a coordinated, consistent way and we’ll continue to support them as they start to plan their own, medium and long-term response.

In India the flooding has been concentrated in Bihar where the state government is rebroadcasting Lifeline programmes previously produced by our India team.

More rain is forecast in all of the areas so badly affected this week. Access to relevant, timely and trust worthy information will be vital in helping people prepare for more flooding and eventually rebuilding their lives.

--

BBC Media Action is not funded by the BBC licence fee and depends on the generous support of donors. Help support our work here.

Abass became a voice for Ebola survivors across Sierra Leone. Allieu Sesay tells his ongoing story.

Holding his baby daughter in his arms, today Abass looks like any other proud father. But when we first met three years ago, at the peak of the Ebola epidemic in Sierra Leone, it seemed hard to imagine this day would come.

Then I was spending nearly every day making radio programmes to share life-saving information to stop the virus spreading. Abass was volunteering at a health centre in Freetown. As an Ebola survivor he had some immunity to the virus and wanted to help other patients.

When Abass told me his story – I was appalled. His wife Fatima had lost both parents to Ebola and most of her extended family. Their six-month-old baby had died in the epidemic.

Like most survivors, he was suffering serious health complications and most painful of all – discrimination and isolation from society.

I asked him to speak on our radio programme to represent survivors, showing listeners their point of view and their daily struggles.

How media fought Ebola

When the World Health Organisation (WHO) declared the Ebola outbreak an international public health emergency, we were already challenging misinformation and confusion in our discussion programmes, public service announcements and by training journalists across the country. We created “Kick Ebola”, a radio magazine programme and later Mr Plan Plan – a radio drama in local languages.

Radio programmes could reach large numbers of people, help them understand how to protect themselves and highlight how traditional practices – like caring for the sick or washing the bodies for traditional burials were killing people.

But increasingly it became important for ordinary people like Abass to say what they were going through - to have a voice – and most importantly for others to listen.

On-air counselling

Abass agreed to talk to a counsellor on air, helping others understand the devastating consequences of the stigma he faced. To help change perceptions we also invited a doctor to explain that you cannot catch Ebola by touching a survivor.

Through his bold statements and courage, he became an advocate for the needs of survivors. "Anyone who survived Ebola was a miracle at that time," he says, "but it was not easy for me and other people."

After the outbreak was declared over, and the government announced plans to restore essential services, we created a successor programme Wi Di Pipul (We The People). We reported on the country’s health, education and social care sectors, giving people information about their rights and entitlements. Read more about the impact of the programme here.

In Abass’s case, this meant getting the surgery he needed to address his health complications caused by Ebola, "I was unable to urinate and I was afraid of problems with my kidney," he said. He also helped keep up the pressure for the government to deliver on other promises – including providing free healthcare for survivors and pregnant women.

The road to recovery

Three years since the declaration of a public state of emergency - my country is slowly recovering.

And three months ago Abass and his wife welcomed Huratu Patricia, the baby daughter they longed for. They were fortunate to benefit from the free healthcare for pregnant women.

The road ahead isn’t easy. Abass’s health problems continue and make it hard for him to find employment. He is one of more than 4,000 survivors suffering from post-Ebola syndrome. Symptoms include joint and muscle pain, blindness, and neurological problems. Many people are still stigmatised and rejected by their families and communities, and struggle to find a way back to how their lives were before the epidemic.

As Wi Di Pipul comes to an end this month. I’m proud of the work we’ve done to give people a voice but know it is more important than ever for survivors to continue to be heard.

We need to continue amplifying their needs and concerns to help them rebuild their lives and build a future for Huratu Patricia and her generation. Let’s talk about what will happen next.

Allieu Sesay is the Head of Production for BBC Media Action in Sierra Leone

--

BBC Media Action is not funded by the BBC licence fee and depends on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Related links

BBC Media Action’s work in Sierra Leone

Follow BBC Media Action on Twitter and Facebook

Go back to BBC Media Action

The media has a significant role to play in changing stereotypes of young Sierra Leoneans. Young people are often described as lazy, violent or easily influenced and negative stories about youth unemployment, teenage pregnancy and violence by young gangs often populate our news. But Dis Na Wi Voice aims to change that.

We invite young people to tell their stories via our Facebook page. The platform gives them the space to talk to us about their hopes for the future, their frustrations about issues that affect them and how others inspire them or how they have achieved their aspirations. By sharing online our audience can connect and share their comments about the same issues and empower each other.

There are thousands of young people in Sierra Leone with countless issues to deal with but Dis Na Wi Voice hopes to change the way young people are portrayed for the better. Not least when inspirational stories like Fanta’s helps young people to see the important role they play in our country’s future.

As one young respondent who took part in our research said “Wetin na for wi without wi nor to for wi’’ – “What is for us without us is not for us.”

Related links

Dis Na Wi Voice is funded by Comic Relief
Find out more about our work in Sierra Leone
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the BBC Media Action website

Real role models

Our most recent episode focused on crime, gang violence and abuse against women.

In the first part of the show, we interviewed a reformed gang leader called ‘ICE’, who talked openly to us about his old life and why he gave up violence to work with The Anti-Violence Movement in Sierra Leone (AVMSL). He encourages young people to build a peaceful life that is beneficial to their community rather than starting a life of crime.

''There is no pension in crime'' said ICE. "It's never too late to transform to a positive life.''

In the sports segment of our show, Kung Fu expert Ezekiel Bangura teaches our presenter, Maraya Conteh, some new moves which could be used to ward off attackers.

“I was surprised to learn the Kung Fu is a game of discipline” Maraya says breathlessly after recording the training. “There are misconceptions that this sport is violent, but it is all about self-defence and peace.”

And in our discussion segment, representatives from the police department highlighted the serious consequences of having a criminal record – and the dangerous effects of drug and alcohol abuse.

Media has played a role in perpetuating negative stereotypes for young people here but we know it also has a significant role to play in changing them. By highlighting young role models and real stories in Dis Na Wi Voice – we hope to inspire young people to create positive change for themselves, their families and for everyone in Sierra Leone.

Dis Na Wi Voice is produced as part of the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme, funded by Comic Relief and produced by BBC Media Action. We are not funded by the BBC licence fee and depend on the generous support of donors. Help support our work.

Related links

Read more about Dis Na Wi Voice
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram
Go back to the BBC Media Action website

For International Women’s Day 2016, the presenter and producer of Leh Wi Know shares how she’s using radio to help empower women to understand their rights in Sierra Leone.

In Sierra Leone we need women like me to stand up tall and talk about women’s issues. I’m a producer and presenter on a radio show called Leh Wi Know, a programme that promotes access to justice and security for women and girls in Sierra Leone. I try and empower women in the work that I do.

Here in Sierra Leone we have so many laws that could protect women and girls – but they often don’t know about them. Leh Wi Know is about encouraging women and girls to be aware of the country’s laws and understanding how these laws can protect and benefit them.

I remember once, recording Leh Wi Know in a village in northern Sierra Leone, we met a 73 year old woman who was just 10 years old when her father chose a man who would marry her, against her wishes. The day we met her was the first time she had told her story to anyone.

She said: “Because my dad gave my hand in marriage I couldn’t be who I wanted to be.” By telling her story on Leh Wi Know she sent a message to girls, to parents, to say “please encourage your girl child to go to school - she might be the next president, she might be the next minister.”

I feel fulfilled when I see the impact Leh Wi Know is having, and the way it has helped women and girls in different areas. When they say “I heard your programme”, it shows that I’m indeed talking on their behalf and bringing a public voice to their issues.

Read more inspiring stories of how women are using media to make waves.

Making Waves in Libya: Libya's story             
Making Waves in Nepal: Bidhya’s story
Making Waves in Tanzania: Meena’s story
Making Waves in Cambodia: YoKi’s story
Making Waves in South Sudan: Winnie's story
Making Waves in Kenya: Stellah's story
Making Waves in Somalia: Yasmin's story

What do a priest, a boat, a bus and a bike have in common? Despite sounding like the start of a bad joke this is in fact an important part of our strategy for circulating and transmitting our life-saving Ebola information radio programmes to stations across Sierra Leone.

Brown paper packages

While most BBC programmes are sent down ISDN lines or shared via storage systems backed by huge servers or cloud-based systems, we dispatch our programmes on CDs in brown paper packages.

Internet connections are too slow, too unreliable and in the smallest and most remote radio stations – non-existent. Our partner stations stretch from the island of Sherbro in the south of Sierra Leone to the rural borders of Guinea and Liberia and no single commercial courier covers the whole country. And even if it did Ebola-related travel restrictions make it logistical headache to deliver the programme safely and on time.

Though Sierra Leone has successfully emerged from the decade-long civil war and is developing its infrastructure tricky transport links and pot-holed dirt roads muddied by heavy rains mean a long and arduous journey for anything sent by post.

Canoes used for fishing

Under these difficult circumstances, ingenious ways are found on a bi-weekly basis to deliver radio shows to partner stations using every means of transport available. Our creative selection of options includes rickety motor bikes, cantankerous commercial buses, ancient jeeps supplied by a friendly NGO – and for one radio station based on an island - canoes normally used for fishing.

Father Mansaray

One marathon journey to distribute our Ebola-response radio programme Kick Ebola from Sierra Leone starts out at a lorry station in the capital, Freetown; the CD is then passed to a priest named Father Mansaray in the bustling city of Magburaka; the package then hitches a ride on a bus from the once Ebola-quarantined city of Makeni and ends up at Radio Bintumani in the far reaches of northern Sierra Leone. In total, the radio show travels over 450km over two to three days – every single week.

We encounter all sorts of obstacles. We’ve missed connections for buses which leave only every couple of days; during heavy rains, packages have been lost after delivery cars literally sank into sticky mud; and last month, we were prevented from driving into an Ebola-quarantined town by authorities. But by hook or by crook, we’ve still managed to deliver the programmes – albeit (and understandably) – sometimes a few days late.

It’s not just Ebola awareness programmes that embark on the bi-weekly tour of Sierra Leone. Through radio, BBC Media Action in Sierra Leone is helping address women’s legal rights, re-build farming skills damaged by years of civil war; encourage debate and accountability before elections; and we have facilitated journalistic coverage of the Sierra Leone-based trial of former Liberian president, Charles Taylor.

So what do a priest, a boat, a bus and a bike have in common? It’s actually no laughing matter. Against the odds, they are all helping us to get life-changing radio programmes out to communities across Sierra Leone.

Related links

• Back to BBC Media Action
• BBC Media Action's work in Sierra Leone
• More blogs about Sierra Leone

Despite my fourteen years as a journalist, I didn’t always want to work in the media. I actually wanted to be a lawyer.

The ability to hold people to account and help people understand their legal rights always appealed to me. Little did I know that a chance meeting with a woman one sunny afternoon would change my life.

This incredible woman was Hannah Foullah, who was at the time one of Sierra Leone’s most formidable female journalists. She believed in empowering women to take control of their own lives and – despite no longer being a journalist - still works today to make sure women’s issues are heard and talked about in Sierra Leone’s media. Most of all, she taught me that you can help many more people understand their rights through media than you can through representing just one person in law.

Empowering women and girls

Fourteen years later, and after presenting on a number of BBC Media Action shows – Tok bot Salone (Talk about Sierra Leone), Fo Rod (Cross Roads] and Aw for waka wit High Heel (How to walk in High Heels), I now have the pleasure of working on Leh Wi Know (Let Us Know), a brand new BBC Media Action weekly radio drama and discussion programme. Combining a compelling drama series with insightful studio discussion, Leh Wi Know will reach local listeners with important information on the rights and entitlements of women and girls in Sierra Leone.

The 15 minute drama is followed by a 45 minute discussion with guests – from ordinary people with stories to share; to government officials, chiefs, lawyers and representatives from civil society organisations. Discussion topics range from corporal punishment, political leadership and teenage pregnancy to psychological violence, sexual harassment and rape. Although we’re covering serious subjects, we want to do it in an engaging way, so music, interviews, poetry and comments on social media will also form an important part of the format.

In the second Leh Wi Know episode due to air later this month, I interviewed Sierra Leone’s first lady, Sia Nyama Koroma, a campaigner for women and girls’ rights in Sierra Leone who is known for her commitment to reducing teenage pregnancy and maternal mortality. She spoke of the impact of Ebola on women and girls in Sierra Leone, an issue rarely covered by media. She believes Ebola’s closure of schools across the country will only increase the country’s rate of teenage pregnancies - because it leaves more opportunity for sexual offences against young girls who would normally be safely in school. Highlighting under-reported issues like this through debate and drama is exactly why Leh Wi Know is crucial in ensuring women’s issues are on the national agenda and that women can participate in a society that protects and respects them.

I shed a tear...

Having the confidence to report crimes to police is also a huge issue for women in Sierra Leone. Leh Wi Know aims to tackle this by using drama and debate to help more people contact police on crimes of a sensitive nature such as sexual assault and domestic violence. Recently, I shed a tear on hearing the harrowing story of young girl whose father decided to inflict wounds on his child by burning her hands. For this reason, we’re not just targeting women with our programmes - we want to show men that wives, sisters and children should be respected as humans, not beasts they can beat and abuse. But it’s not all about highlighting the “baddies”; we want to tell husbands, brothers and sons that they can play a key positive role in championing the rights of women and children and assisting them to access security and justice services when they need them.

Meeting strong women, sharing their stories and supporting access to security and justice services are some of the perks of my presenting job at Leh Wi Know. It’s a comfort to know that despite the difficult topics and stories I face each week, the programme is trying to empower women to access the services available to them – and change perceptions in the way women should be treated.

Leh Wi Know is produced with support from the UK's Department for International Development (DFID).

• BBC Media Action's work in Sierra Leone
• Back to the BBC Media Action website
• Follow BBC Media Action on Twitter and Facebook

I recently spent a week away from my home in Bradford, in the north of England, working with a team in London on scripts for a new BBC Media Action radio drama for West Africa called Mr Plan-Plan and the Pepo-oh. Our focus is Ebola and our aim is to use familiar characters and situations to help people feel confident about getting early treatment for Ebola Virus Disease (known as just “Ebola”) and ensuring safe burials when someone dies.

It was an international effort – I’m Liberian, and I worked alongside colleagues from Guinea and Sierra Leone, and a creative team from India helped us with storylines. The scripts were produced in both French and Liberian English in order to reach as many people in the region as possible.

These new mini-dramas bring together three strands in my own life: I’ve studied nutrition and public health, I’m a nurse and midwife by profession, and I’ve also been broadcasting health related programmes for sub-Saharan Africa for some years in my show Calls to My Sister.

Calls to My Sister is based on the telephone conversations I really have with my own sister in Liberia where, in addition to chatting, I share advice about nutrition and hygiene. I realised this kind of information could be helpful for others, and so turned our conversations into scripted dialogue that I record with another actor. Our weekly show is sent to radio stations across West Africa. One time I was talking to my real sister on the phone when she suddenly stopped talking and held her radio to the receiver. I could hear Calls to My Sister in the background!

I know how well drama works – it enables you to bring up topics that might be taboo and the listener isn’t being “told” what to do. So I was delighted to be invited to take part in this new BBC Media Action project on Ebola response. Radio is terribly important in sub-Saharan Africa. Young people do increasingly have mobile phones but radio is how people get their information and news.

Before I got the call to help out I was getting very frustrated that I wasn’t doing enough to help tackle the problem back home (with a Guinean ancestry, a Sierra Leone name and a Liberian nationality, I’m rooted in the region). There is sometimes friction between the need to stop the spread of Ebola and observing age-old customs. For instance I heard that members of an official burial team [a team recruited by local officials to dispose of the bodies of people suspected of dying of Ebola] in Guinea had been attacked by the relatives of the deceased.

The people grieving didn’t understand what the team needed to do in order to ensure Ebola was not transmitted to anyone else. The bodily fluids of someone who has died as a result of Ebola are very infectious – but not to be able to spend time with the corpse and to touch it goes against local tradition. Without access to information people just don’t understand what to do or why to do it.

Liberia was only just starting to recover from the civil war when Ebola struck. I’m glad to be able to play a small part in helping the country beat this latest threat and to take part in these new Ebola response dramas as both an actress and scriptwriter. I thank God that my real sister and her family are ok so far and I pray that with the help of these programmes and good practices they, and many more, will stay well.

• Listen to a Mr Plan-Plan and the Pepo-oh episode on Soundcloud.
• Read another post about Mr Plan-Plan and the Pepo-oh on the BBC Media Action Blog.
• Go back to the BBC Media Action website.
• Follow BBC Media Action on Twitter and Facebook.