By Thomas Ochieng, Ruben FM Station Manager
They say if you want to go nowhere go alone but if you want to go somewhere and achieve a lot then go with people. There are people who will help you achieve your vision and people who will help you kill your ambitions. If you get people who will help you achieve your vision then you are indeed lucky.
Ruben FM, a community radio station in Nairobi, happens to be one of the luckiest radio stations to have worked with great volunteers from Palms Australia, during and after its establishment. Ruben FM is currently ranked the best community radio station in Kenya due to the strong foundation laid by the radio management in collaboration with Palms Australia’s volunteers.
Bev Watkinson, a volunteer from Palms Australia, has been of great importance to Ruben FM. Her passion in radio has seen Ruben FM grow and comply with the government. Bev has been sharing her great ideas with the radio team in content generation and marketing of Ruben FM. In 2017 she helped the radio station management to write a proposal to the Planet Wheeler Foundation. The proposal was successful and Ruben FM received two year’s funding. Such are great efforts that can’t be taken for granted. Bev is an optimistic person and her advice to the radio team and management contributes largely towards our success as a community radio. My team loves her and always works hard to build on the ideas she gives to the team.
I would like to thank Palms Australia for providing people with great minds to Ruben Centre. You have really contributed largely towards our success as Ruben FM. As the station manager of the radio, I would like to promise you that Ruben FM team will never forget about every effort you have put in since our establishment. We will always work extra hard to achieve our vision in empowering and uniting Mukuru Community. God bless you as you continue empowering others through your God-given skills.
The Ruben Centre is a valuable community media and healthcare service for residents of the Mukuru slum in Nairobi, Kenya. A quality, community media is essential for developing content that is by and for the local community, giving a voice to those who rarely get airtime in commercial or public radio. Palms is proud to support Ruben FM and we look forward to helping strengthen the station in the future.