According to International Alert, given the real and perceived inequalities between those living in the capital city and those in rural areas, it is vital that communication be enhanced in rural Liberia. The Liberia Media Project attempts to enable groups who feel marginalised and alienated to articulate their views, needs and rights through the media rather than resorting to violence and ensuring that journalists are trained in responsible reporting. In addition, they aim to improve access to impartial and balanced information in the eight most conflict-affected counties of Liberia – so that people there understand the ever-changing political situation and feel empowered to engage with processes originating in the capital Monrovia.

The project’s activities ands communication strategies include:

• improving the effectiveness of using the media and traditional mechanisms for peace building;
• supporting capacity building for community radio and ensuring access by the country’s youth;
• equipping the youth, including ex-combatants, with leadership skills in peace building;
• improving the existing communication channels within the community; and
• maintaining and giving social prominence to peace award.

Implemented in Grand Gedeh, Maryland, River Gee and Grand Kru Counties and later in Lofa, Nimba, Bong and Gbarpolu Counties, the project intended to plant community radios in each of the concerned counties. The community radio stations are meant to spread messages of peace and good will and providing civic education that would assist in determining how to work along with the new government to preserve the peace.

According to the organisers, the Liberia Media Project/International Alert provides all electronic gadgetry and optional equipment, all technical services related to the installation of the stations and provides the appropriate start up training and services to turn over ownership of the stations to the communities, who then manage the programmes through a multi stakeholder Board of Trustees.

Part of the strategy includes organising Peace Festivals in rural areas, as a way of celebrating the cultural traditions of the region and communicating messages about peace-building and reconciliation. They believe that the combination of traditional and contemporary communication mechanisms enables media to represent local people, who in turn feel more connected to their society and are more likely to resolve differences peacefully.

The project hosted a three-day Traditional Media Workshop in Bopolu, Gbarpolu County. The workshop involved traditional communicators, traditional storytellers, language announcers, dramatists and community radio announcers from the northern and central counties of Lofa, Nimba, Bong and Gbarpolu. Participants were lectured on how to make peace concepts an integral part of their daily works, and discussed the peace process, and how their work can contribute to making it better. There were also discussions on post-electoral reconciliation and governance, including issues of concern like the repatriation and resettlement of displaced persons and refugees.

The Liberia Media Project is part of a wider strategy to build sustainable peace in Liberia and the sub-region through communicating messages about peace building and reconciliation. The organsiers believe that across the sub-region, communication and improved access to information can have a powerful effect on conflicts that spill across borders and threaten areas of stability. The project provided an opportunity for Liberians to have a direct role in helping to restore peace in their country. The participation in town meetings, symposia and workshops assisted Liberians to be part of the peace process. Additional activities like the peace festival and the encounter of communicators and communities were additional opportunities to increase the people’s role in the process.

Conflict.