Absolute radio presenter returns from Kenya after groundbreaking campaign broadcast

Absolute Radio presenter Pete Donaldson has spoken about his experiences after returning from the slums of Kenya after recording the station’s first-ever outside broadcast from Africa.

Pete travelled with international development agency Practical Action, to record the station’s first ever programme focusing on development issues.

Pete said: “People of my generation grew up in the 80s and 90s watching images of African poverty and I naïvely had a very simplistic view of what I might experience in Kenya. What I’ve seen is people who are doing exactly the same things that our parents did, and what we’re doing, they’re just doing it with a lot less money available.

“Practical Action work with communities and provide resources that are sustainable, and can be maintained by the community. It’s not just ‘dump a toilet here’ and then disappear.

“I was blown away by the resourcefulness of the people who live here. Every £ that’s donated is matched by the UK Government so it’s never been a better time to get involved. ”

Practical Action launched its ‘A Safe Pair of Hands’ campaign in November, which addresses malnutrition amongst children in the slums in Kisumu, the third largest city in Kenya. The charity teamed up with Absolute Radio to raise awareness and funds for the appeal, with every donation made being matched £ for £ by the UK Government.

Pete and the team met with local health care workers and families and recorded a two hour broadcast with local radio station Urban FM in Kisumu which was broadcast to local communities. They also recorded a broadcast which was played back on Absolute Radio to help raise funds for the project.

Pete and the radio crew experienced life-changing work in slums to discover why young children die every day from dirty water and lack of basic equipment such as taps, water pipes and handwashing basins. They had a unique opportunity to see how clever, simple measures can change everything.

Lack of access to clean water and toilets in Kisumu mean that most children growing up suffer multiple bouts of diarrhoea throughout their early years. What people don’t realise (it has only recently been discovered) is that the body is permanently damaged by multiple bouts of diarrhoea in childhood and it can leave people unable to absorb nutrients required for growth.

Rachel Hudson, Director of Marketing at Practical Action said: “The trip to Kenya by Absolute Radio I think has been a real eye-opener, especially for Pete.

“The broadcast is the first of its kind for a UK commercial station and we’re really looking forward to seeing the impact it’s going to have on the people we work with in Kisumu. We are confident, thanks to the generous British public and our great supporters that it will be a huge success. ”

To find out more or to make a donation to the appeal visit www.absoluteradio.co.uk/kenya or the charity’s website www.practicalaction.org.