IPNEWS: The Binda Foundation on Tuesday, February 20, 2024 donated assorted radio materials and equipment to the management of Radio Gbarpolu. Held in Bopolu District, the event brought together management team, civil society organizations heads, county education officer as well as citizens.
Valued at LD$970,000 the equipment is part of efforts by the foundation to boost communication across the county. Procured from the United States, the equipment include camera gimbal support vests, studio tripods, studio cameras, 12 channel studio mixer, computers as well power stabilizer extension devices among others.
“Today we proud to take one step forward towards supporting communications across Gbarpolu County,” Prince Vongbor, the Foundation Country Director said. “Communication plays a pivotal role in the development of our county. And so, this is just the beginning of several interventions we intend to roll out in Gbarpolu county this year being the least underdeveloped county in the country.”
Vongbor said the donation to the station was also in furtherance of a request made by the management team last year during its anniversary celebration, where they pleaded for equipment and support.
The Foundation Country Director also announced that in addition to assistance to the station, plans were underway for the launch of an economic empowerment program for women and children in Gbarma District this year.
The soon to be launched project is valued at LD$3million dollars- and would include non-repayable loan scheme to market women, youth and elders in Gbarma District among others. He added in the coming days the foundation will present LD$50.000 to the Gbarma District Youth Association (GDYA). The donation is aimed at aiding the conduct of youth elections in the distict as well as foster democratic transition of power. “As a foundation built on the values of empathy and human dignity, we believe these interventions will go a long way in helping not just our people but country,” Vongbor stressed.
Responding to the donation, Henry Gboluma Station Manager, Voice of Gbarpolu said the institution was elated for the gesture. “We didn’t expect all of this equipment,” he said. “What we were expecting was a mixer, but here we are-we have all of this modern equipment,” he added.
He said the donation comes at a time where the institution was being faced with challenges ranging from salaries, operational funds and lack of modern equipment, maintenance among others.
Gboluma who was later followed by Gbarpolu County City Mayor, Zinnah Korvah described the donation as first of its kind in the county. “We are happy as a people and a county, that one of our own in person of Mr. Binda can look back to his county. There are many citizens in the US and some in Monrovia who don’t look back or help our county. For this, we say thank you.”
Pledging to use the equipment for the intended purpose, both the Resident District Officer (DEO), Latta V. Bemah Sr, and the Civil Society Organizations Coordinator, Ms Ladia Ballah called on the Foundation to continue to assist the country in other areas. They named areas of women empowerment, sexual gender-based violence and youth development, stressing that those sectors need attention and support.
Tuesday’s presentation is part of continuous support to media institutions in the county and other areas, the Foundation said in a statement released. The Binda Foundation seeks to carter to citizens of Liberia in the areas of health, education, infrastructure, governance and agriculture among others. The Foundation partner with scores of non-profit organizations in the United States and Europe with an asset’s reputation at over US$100million.
Since 2019 the organization has donated over US$30,00 worth of materials affecting areas of education, youth development, sports, agriculture and media advocacy.
Launched in the United States, it was founded by Stephen Binda- a Liberian journalist. Binda is a US business executive and activist was born and raised in Liberia with parents originating from Gbarma District, he’s also the grand son of the late Chief Ziamah Samgbeh, a historic paramount Chief of Gbarpolu
