How COVID-19 Has Affected a Network of Catholic Radios in Africa

For instance, he said, most of the administrative personnel are working from home, while the editorial personnel has to remain in the radio, “in some cases living within the premises of the radio, in order to assure the dissemination of programs.”

On financial support from Christians, the Tanzania-based Radio Maria Africa Coordinator told ACI Africa, “Donations have decreased, as many listeners of Radio Maria are from low income families, which are those among the most affected by the lockdown.”

“Definitely the radios are suffering from a decrease in donations. However, it is still too early to make a clear analysis at a continental level,” Mr. Taffuri said and added, “We forecast to see the financial effect during May and June.”

Due to the impact of COVID-19 in some European countries such as Italy and Spain “where some of the biggest Radio Maria are,” the Italian official said that the World Family of Radio Maria (WFRM), the global entity that runs all Radio Maria stations across the world, is forecasting a reduced financial capacity this year.

To cope with the situation, the official revealed to that “around June, there will be a revision of the budget and we will see how we can better help radios with heavy financial problems.”

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Annually in the month of May, each of the stations run a campaign dubbed “Mariathon” to raise funds to support their respective radio ministry. According to the Coordinator, several stations decided to postpone the funds drive to October, as the month of May “is still under the crisis time.”

Other Radio Maria stations such as in Tanzania and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) are running their “Mariathon” now, with others like Radio Maria Malawi expected to start the funds drive soon, Mr. Taffuri shared.

With public Masses suspended in many African countries to control the possible spread of COVID-19, the Radio Maria official told ACI Africa that all the radios have increased the number of daily Masses celebrated in the Chapel of Radio Maria and broadcast live.

In some areas where Radio Maria is the only Catholic media through which the faithful can follow the Liturgy, the local Church leaders have directed the faithful to participate in the celebrations via radio, Mr. Taffuri shared.

“One example comes from Mozambique, where the Archbishop of Maputo, Most. Rev Francisco Chimoio presided over most of the Easter celebrations in the chapel of the radio or in the Cathedral,” he noted.

COVID-19 has also affected the expansion of the radio network across Africa, the Coordinator noted, with the main impediment being the inability of technicians to travel as many international flights are suspended and the lockdowns would not permit them to work.

On the lessons learnt from COVID-19 crisis so far, Mr. Taffuri who has served as Radio Maria Africa Coordinator since 2010 told ACI Africa that those facilitating the running of the radios have realized the need to invest in developing digital systems of donating and educating listeners to use them.

“In some countries where Mobile Money is not yet common among the population, radios are suffering more than in others,” the multi-lingual official said and noted, “The world is reducing the use of cash and increasing the digital transfers; any non-profit organization including Radio Maria has to adjust.”

He added, “We had already put in place several channels of donations (online donations, through credit/debit cards, through online banking) during this time we have the opportunity to convince people to use them more than before.”

Appealing to Christians to continue supporting the stations even during the pandemic, the Tanzania-based official cautioned, “If the Catholics don’t invest in good communication, we risk to remain hostages of the big powers behind the big names in the media.”

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“If we invest in Catholic media we can have a voice to the public in general, but also and most importantly we can keep on transmitting the faith and the Good News,” he said and advised, “Every Christian needs to nourish his/her own faith every day by praying and listening to the Word of God.”

Amid the turbulence brought about by COVID-19, Mr. Taffuri expressed optimism that Radio Maria stations in various African countries will thrive saying, “Let’s not forget that this is a project of Our Lady; she surprised us many times; she could do it even now. We are hopeful.”