Tears of Joy
January 18, 2010 | Category: Guest Post | 1 Comment
Posted By: Farm Radio International
Written in Honour of the Great Farm Radio Broadcaster George Atkins, Who Passed Away on 30 November 2009
By Gladson Makowa (Farm Radio Partner Broadcaster in Malawi)
George Atkins 1917-2009
To the board, management and staff, donors, African farm radio broadcasters and all those who know Farm Radio founder George Atkins:
TEARS AND JOY
It is sad for the family and workmates to lose loved ones. But not all deaths are sad moments, because some deaths entail the fulfilment of dreams. It was George Atkins’s dream that African farm radio broadcasters talk to the majority of farmers in their nations about appropriate technologies. It was the dream of George Atkins that broadcasters make farm radio programmes that make a difference and change the lives of the majority of farmers in their nations. Can’t we call this the symbol of love for Africa, a love which was emphasised by starting the sharing of what most people do not want to share, knowledge through radio scripts? This is the love and dream that many Canadians dedicate their finances to continue.
There is no better time to call George Atkins’dreams fulfilled than the year 2009; the year when Farm Radio brought many networking and educative innovations to light, including Farm Radio Weekly, and encouraged the sharing of farming innovations in Africa through a training competition. (What a great idea to combine the training with the competition!) The year that the award named after the hero George Atkins was won because of an appropriate technology script , Manure the magic worker. And the year we parted ways with our loved one, the man of dreams and action: GEORGE ATKINS.
MAY HIS SOUL REST IN PEACE.
1 Comment | PermalinkTags: George Atkins
Happy Holidays!
December 17, 2009 | Category: Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
Posted By: Brenda Jackson
The staff of Farm Radio International wishes you a very happy and healthy holiday.
“Serving agriculture, the basic industry. This is George Atkins.”
December 3, 2009 | Category: ED Update, News Update | 2 Comments
Posted By: Brenda Jackson
It is with deep sadness that we announce the death of founder George Atkins, in his 93rd year, on November 30, 2009.
George Atkins listened to farmers. And his best advice to broadcasters was just that: listen to the farmers. George learned from farmers. In fact, we don’t think George ever met a farmer from whom he didn’t learn something.
George was a well known CBC farm broadcaster in the fifties, sixties and seventies. Always an advocate for farming and the family farmer, he signed off his radio reports with “Serving agriculture, the basic industry, this is George Atkins.”
In 1979, following retirement from the CBC, George created Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (since renamed Farm Radio International), the world’s only organization dedicated to supporting small farmers and their families through the use of radio - the one medium they all use. Since then he has sustained that organization with his leadership, vision and boundless energy.
Our thoughts are with his wife Janet, their four daughters and their families, as they come to terms with the loss of a loving husband, father, grandfather and great grandfather.
At Farm Radio International, we will miss his regular encouragement, good humour and sense of celebration. We are strengthened by the example of his persistence, and we will honour that memory in our work every day.
In the video posted below, Atkins tells us the story of how he founded Farm Radio International following a bus trip in Zambia in 1975. Hundreds of millions of people around the world now receive appropriate, timely and relevant information through Farm Radio International’s network, all because of a little idea that came from George.
If you have a memory or reflection to share, please post a comment by clicking the “Comment” button below and leave a reply. We will be sure the family receives all or your messages.
If you are interested in supporting the work that George started you can click here.
2 Comments | PermalinkTags: George Atkins
Dr. George Atkins reflects back on 30 years of Farm Radio International
November 3, 2009 | Category: News from the Circle | Leave a Comment
Posted By: Farm Radio International
Today we are sharing something really special. We decided to create a video for our 30th Anniversary this year. Who better to explain Farm Radio International’s origin than the founder: George Atkins? In this video Dr. Atkins tells us the story of how he founded Farm Radio International (formerly Developing Countries Farm Radio Network) in May 1979. So many people around the world now receive appropriate, timely and relevant information through Farm Radio International’s network, all because of a little idea that came from George.
30 years and counting… Thanks George!
Credits: Video shot and edited by Nelly Bassily (Farm Radio International)
Tags: 30th, George Atkins, Video
Celebrating 30 Years at the Outdoor Farm Show
October 26, 2009 | Category: News from the Circle | Leave a Comment
Posted By: Brenda Jackson
David and Miriam Barrie at the Farm Radio International tent at the Outdoor Farm Show
I had the pleasure of setting up tent at the 2009 Outdoor Farm Show in Woodstock Ontario in September. The Outdoor Farm Show was started by former Farm Radio International board member, the late Ginty Jocius. His wife Lorie, who runs the event now, helped us secure a spot at the Show. Over 40,000 attended this 3-day event.
What better way is there to help celebrate 30 years then by meeting many rural farmers? Canadian Farmers were some of Farm Radio International’s first supporters in the very early days, after listening to founder and farmer, George Atkins, talk about helping the poorest of the poor farmers around the world through radio.
We had a tent right between the Food Grains Bank and the local Rotary Club. The days were sunny and beautiful. Board member, David Barrie (a retired farmer himself) and wife Miriam chatted with visitors about our work, about their visit to one of our partner stations in Malawi and invited people in for refreshments. George’s grandkids, Mark Elliott and Sarah Andrewes also lent a hand on the last day. All in all, it was a wonderful opportunity to reconnect with Farm Radio International friends and to many meet new ones.
Please read this great article from one visitor and journalist, Tom VanDusen, in The Ontario Farmer by clicking here.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkTags: Outdoor Farm Show
Fall Network News
October 26, 2009 | Category: News Update | Leave a Comment
Posted By: Farm Radio International
Our newest edition of “Network News” is now available for download and printing on our website. It is published three times a year and highlights the latest accomplishments of Farm Radio International. This issue touches on:
- Our latest script package: Importance of Livestock Health
- Launch of Radio Scriptwriting Competition on Farmer Innovation
- Partner Profile: George Atkins Communication Award Winner
- Stock Donations
- Celebrating 30 Years
Please check out this newsletter from the Adobe PDF file by clicking here
Leave a Comment | PermalinkTags: Network News
A trip back to 1979 - Farm Radio Audio Tape #1
August 13, 2009 | Category: News from the Circle | 2 Comments
Posted By: Farm Radio International
George Atkins performs an interview in the field
Let’s take a trip way back to 1979 when Farm Radio International (then called Developing Countries Farm Radio Network) began. Based on the idea that smallholder farmers throughout Africa could benefit greatly by receiving timely and accurate information about farming over the radio, George Atkins (founder and former director of DCFRN) set out to provide an invaluable service to broadcasters across the continent and beyond.
Farm Radio International now provides farming information and training resources for rural radio broadcasters on hard copy scripts, online through Farm Radio Weekly and through online learning courses and competitions. But it wasn’t always this way…
When the organization first began George Atkins himself would sit down in a studio and read radio scripts (many of them written by himself) aloud and record the “broadcast” on a cassette tape. For years DCFRN would archive this information and often send it out across the world as a reference material for rural radio broadcasters. While this is no longer common practice at Farm Radio International, it is great to look back at the history of how our small organization began and get a taste of the extraordinary vision that George had, even in those early days.
For our 30th Anniversary we decided to dig into the archives and digitize some of these old recordings. Please take a listen to a clip from the very first script package recorded by George Atkins in 1979 that was supported then by CIDA, Massey Ferguson and Guelph University.
2 Comments | Permalink
Tags: 30th, Audio, George Atkins, Radio
Happy 30th! From Farm Radio Partner, TRALSO
August 6, 2009 | Category: Guest Post | Leave a Comment
Posted By: Farm Radio International
Navy Simukonda , TRALSO Director
The Board, management, staff and the rural communities serviced by the Transkei Land Service Organisation (TRALSO) salute Farm Radio International (formerly Developing Countries Radio Network (DCFRN)) on your 30th anniversary. As you celebrate your 30th anniversary, we share your commitment and passion to improving the lives of the poor resourced rural communities around the world whose livelihoods through your continued information dissemination. TRALSO applauds the contributions FRI has made to help strengthen the experience and knowledge base of community broadcasters, community development facilitators and agricultural extension workers.
Having been an active member of FRI for the last ten (10) years, it is with great pleasure that we extend our warmest congratulations on the occasion of your 30th Anniversary. Farm Radio International boasts a long and proud history of equipping radio, broadcasters, community field practitioners and development workers throughout our the world with not only knowledge but also information necessary to contribute positively to addressing the socio-economic ills affecting farming families around the world. With the information we have received from Farm Radio scripts, we have managed to reach out more than 6000 rural farming households with useful information and tips on food production, climate change, nutrition and health as well as for sustaining their livelihoods in general.
We are confident that this tradition you have endeavoured for the past three decades will continue for years to come and we would like to wish you more success. As you honour the past and build the future, let us continue to make one of the basic fundamental human rights -– the right to education through information, a reality. TRALSO believes that together, we can make the dream of building economically vibrant and healthy rural communities a reality. We send you our heartfelt congratulations for the first 30 years and great success for the next coming years.
TRALSO encourages you to continue your mission to inform development practitioners and community radio broadcasters so that they will be well informed and aware of current issues affecting poor resourced farming families. Through your work and support, TRALSO field staff is better equipped and informed to service the rural poor more effectively and efficiently.
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Farm Radio International Launches 3rd Radio Scriptwriting Competition
July 31, 2009 | Category: News Update, Press release | Leave a Comment
Posted By: Farm Radio International
Farm Radio International, in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning (COL), the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), Inter Press Service (IPS) Africa, the Technical Centre for Agricultural and Rural Cooperation (CTA) and other partners, is coordinating a scriptwriting competition on smallholder farmer innovation in sub-Saharan Africa.
Open to organizations and individuals that work with radio in Africa, this competition also offers a free, two-month on-line scriptwriting training course to assist participants with writing the radio scripts. To read the press release, click here. For more information, visit the website here.
Leave a Comment | PermalinkTags: Africa, Press release, Radio, scriptwriting competition
2009 George Atkins Communications Award Winner Announced
July 24, 2009 | Category: News from Our Partners | 1 Comment
Posted By: Farm Radio International
Gladson Makowa, a producer for the Story Workshop in Malawi.
Farm Radio International is pleased to announce that the 2009 George Atkins Communications Award winner is Gladson Makowa, a producer for the Story Workshop in Malawi.
This past year Story Workshop has produced some great videos for Farm Radio International that explain how our work empowers farmers. See it below and check out the other three in the series on our Youtube Channel.
Gladson has produced many excellent scripts and articles for Farm Radio International since 2004. “Manure the Magic Worker”, one of Gladson’s scripts, was one of the winning scripts of the 2008 scriptwriting competition “Farmers Strategies for Adapting to Climate Change.”
Listen to Gladson’s script by clicking play at the bottom of this blog post.
On top of writing award winning scripts, Gladson has been a regular contributor to our weekly electronic newsletter, Farm Radio Weekly (FRW). Most recently, Gladson wrote a story for FRW about villagers losing land to a sugarcane plantation in Malawi. Click here to read the story. This story was featured in a special FRW series on land grabbing.
Gladson was thrilled to hear the news that he won the award.
The announcement that I have won the George Atkins Award amazed me and made me notice that there are other people who appreciate and note the impact that I make through the programs which I produce. Because of that honour, I felt fulfilled, recognised, and humbled. I knew that what we think to be impossible is possible. We just need to continue doing our work with passion and love for the poor.
Congratulations again to Gladson!
Click below to hear Gladson’s award-winning script:
1 Comment | Permalink
Tags: Farm Radio Weekly, George Atkins, land grabbing, Malawi
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Radio can reach communities at the very end of the development road – people who live in areas with no phones and no electricity. Radio reaches people who can't read or write.
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Farm Radio International is a Canadian-based, not-for-profit organization working in direct partnership with approximately 300 radio broadcasters in 39 African countries to fight poverty and food insecurity.
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