Can solar-powered wind-up radios help bring peace to a war-torn country? An innovative project by the Freeplay Foundation in Niger is certainly giving the idea a chance, reports Internews. In co-operation with the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) and the government of Niger, the South Africa-based organisation has set up a program to donate solar-powered wind-up radios to rural communities as part of a wider effort to secure peace and identify local development priorities.

"Radios for the Consolidation of Peace" involves the donation of 12,445 solar-powered, wind-up radios from the Freeplay Energy Group to the Niger government who, in turn, will distribute the radios to various rural communities in the Diffa region. The radios will be used to inform communities about the need to collect and destroy small arms which the UNDP says are still prevalent in the country.

Freeplay Foundation is sending a technician to the capital Niamey to set up a factory and begin recruiting and training Nigerienes in the repair and recondition of the radios. The foundations says the donation of the radios to Niger is also part of a program – the Rural Radio Network and Information Centres for Development – initiated by the government to strengthen the capacity of the country's community radio network. Within two years, the number of solar powered community radio stations in Niger is expected to reach 160.

For more information, visit www.freeplayfoundation.org and www.undp.org.