UNDERWRITER
The major underwriter for the film is The Foundation for West Africa (FWA), a RI-based non-profit headed by Topher Hamblett. Since 2005 FWA has been supporting community radio stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia to help build peace, rebuild lives shattered by war, and strengthen fragile democracies.
FWA has contributed resources to start or upgrade two stations in Liberia and six in Sierra Leone, and strengthen Sierra Leone’s Independent Radio Network (IRN). Currently, they are helping to rebuild a station in northwest Liberia, and we will soon support the upgrade of two more stations in Sierra Leone. The emergence of independent, community radio stations is transforming the way communities deal with their most pressing issues: poverty, corruption, and human rights. Everyday citizens are using radio to call for improvements in education and health care. Marginalized groups in West Africa - most notably women and youth - are using radio to demand a voice in political, social, and economic life. Gutsy journalists are reporting on governance issues, providing levels transparency and accountability that were unheard of just a decade ago.
Funds raised by FWA in the United States help pay for equipment and technical training. Communities own their radio stations, and raise funds locally for operating expenses such as salaries and fuel.
The Foundation for West Africa works primarily with Search for Common Ground (SFCG), a leader in using media for conflict transformation in West Africa. SFCG trains communities in station governance, management, programming, technical and other essential skills. SFCG also produces radio programs to provide information and foster peace and reconciliation.
Community radio in West Africa is still young and fragile. The media environment is Sierra Leone and Liberia is very tough, with reporters facing political intimidation and violence. The communities they are serving are mired in deep poverty, and radio provides solid, reliable information and, most importantly, hope.
Christopher S. “Topher” Hamblett is founder and president of The Foundation for West Africa, a non-profit organization formed in 2005 to “support the people of West Africa in their endeavor to achieve lasting peace and prosperity.” He is also on the Board of Directors of Sierra Leone’s Independent Radio Network (IRN).
Topher served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in eastern Sierra Leone from 1985 to 1987, working for a United Nations-sponsored health project. In 2002, he visited Sierra Leone as the country was beginning its recovery from a ten year civil war. Following that first return visit, he raised support to launch a community radio station, Radio Moa, in eastern Sierra Leone.
Topher’s passion for West Africa led him to launch The Foundation for West Africa, which has helped launch or upgrade nine radio stations in Sierra Leone and Liberia. FWA has also supported education and community health care initiatives in those countries.
From 1988 to 2004 he worked for Save The Bay, and was Director of Advocacy for seven years. His duties included community outreach, legislative lobbying, communications and program planning. In 2009 he returned as Senior Policy Advisor for the organization.
Topher serves on the board of directors of Rhode Island Public Radio and the International Institute of Rhode Island, which operates refugee and immigrant resettlement programs. He is member of the World Affairs Council of Rhode Island and a past board member of Common Cause of RI. Topher and his family live in Barrington, RI.
