Alternative Youth Radio(AYR)

The Alternative Youth Radio (AYR) 98.9MHz exists primarily to serve as a means of Training, Empowering and Transforming the lives of rural young people while at the same time, Entertaining the listening public through quality songs and Educating them through programs that are youth driven and youth-focused towards the prevention of Trafficking In Person (TIP), the implementations of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), prevention of Child labour and abuse, Peace, Security as well as promoting reconciliation.
This project was initiated in early 2016 by a passionate Liberian journalist and advocate James P. Kwabo, Jr. who is also a 2019 semifinalist for the Mandela Washington Fellowship; expected to be held in the United States of America. James’ idea was promoted by his passion to help his home community in rural Liberia immediately following the completion of his undergraduate studies at the United Methodist University where he obtained with Magana Cum-Laude, a Bachelor of Arts (BA) Degree in Mass Communication with an emphasis in Broadcasting.
Being established in 2016, the station obtained its Article of Incorporation and Business registration from the Government of Liberia in late 2018 following test transmission and several community-based pieces of training.
The station is housed in its own constructed four studio rooms building constructed on the telecommunication tower in Zorzor, Lofa County (northern Liberia) with a long term plan to establish a television component. Currently, the station is challenged by a power outage which has negatively affected its transmitter and forced the station off the air for nearly two months since early February 2019. Several lobbies are ongoing to ensure that a new transmitter of 1000watt (1kilowatt) and a solar system of 5kilowatt are gotten so as to ensure consistent broadcast and Activities.
On the overall, as development and fees-for-service project in rural Liberia, AYR provides capacity building supports to emerging community journalists. To date, the station has mentored more than 30 rural community-based young people in journalism, advocacy, and change-making. Fifteen of the mentees, five of whom have already assumed different kinds of managerial roles, were selected to work at the station.
Most specifically, the station focuses on the followings:
a. Provides a platform for youth to interact and exchange ideas related to health, education, youth empowerment, teenage pregnancy, social issues, democracy and governance and to serve as a community radio reaching hard to reach villages and neighboring countries so as to disseminate factual information from the local community, national news; along with other West African and international news outlets.

b. Trains young people into becoming professional radio producers and presenters. More than 30 rural community-based young people have been trained in journalism, advocacy, and change-making. Fifteen of the mentees, five of whom have already assumed different kinds of managerial roles, currently work at the station.

c. Conducts live and recorded interviews with community members, policy makers, national and international organizations about issues affecting women, children, young people, their communities and Liberia in general.

d. Facilitates discussions among young people so that they can share their experiences and air their views to both peers and elders in response to radio presentations
Prior to being off the air, a local GSM company provided electricity support to the station in exchange for air time. Due to change of management and technical reasons, the station is being disconnected; even though there are discussions ongoing towards reconnection. Additionally, the station covered seven of Liberia’s fifteen counties including, Lofa, Bong, Nimba, Gbarpolu, Margibi, a portion of rural Montserrado and Grand Bassa Counties in addition to a vast portion of boarding communities in Sierra Leone and Guinea respectively. Collectively, the station broadcast covered an estimated population of over five hundred and fifty-thousand residents within the reach of the station.