ANNUAL
REPORT
ABSTRACT
2020
WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA
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INDEX IDENTITY
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VOICE OF PEACE ON AIR
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STAKEHOLDER’S MAP
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OUR FAMILY
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OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS
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THE PROJECTS
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THE INTEGRAL FORMATION OF THE PERSON THROUGH THE RADIO
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OUR NUMBERS
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WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA
IDENTITY Name of the institution: World Family of Radio Maria Onlus Legal form: Association - Onlus Territorial areas of operation: National And International (Worldwide) Registered Office: Roma, via Rusticucci 13 - Italy Headquarter: Erba, via Valassina 40 - Italy Continental Offices: Mikocheni Industrial Area, Dar Es Salaam, Box 34573 Tanzania 21 Oliver Street, New York, N.Y. 10038, USA Participation to International Organizations: ECOSOC (United Nations Economic and Social Counsel)
HISTORY AND MISSION World Family of Radio Maria was founded and registered in Italy in 1998 as a non-profit association to help people from several countries in the world to develop locally the Radio Maria project. In fact the Radio Maria Italy was receiving many requests from Bishops, clergy and lay people to have the same kind of radio and programs in their own country. Therefore World Family of Radio Maria was registered with the specific task to respond to such calls and work with local partners for Evangelization and development through communication. World Family has the task of supporting non for profit radios and organizations in four areas: editorial production, associative and administrative management, promotion and diffusion. In this topics organizes training area through the implementation of technical projects in the field of social communication. Besides, it works with other organizations in developing countries to improve the life of people. Its presence in the panorama of international cooperation has always underlined the importance of good communication for the development of the integral human being.
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VOICE OF PEACE ON AIR DEAR FRIENDS, we live in a very special time. This historic moment, however, must be seen through the eyes of God. The Queen of Peace has been warning us for years: without God the world has neither happiness, nor future, nor eternal life. Throughout this time, Our Lady has been preparing the fall of the Godless world. God dies, the world of conceit, pride, money, injustice, and the new world emerges ever more strongly: “Behold, I make all things new”(Ap 21,5). It is a time of grace because the time is coming when we will be freed. We have entered a phase in which what men have built will fall and what Our Lady has sown will blossom. Padre Livio, Director Advisor
DEARS, we are going through a complex phase of world history, which could also be seen as a turning point for a new, more humane plan for the future. I would like this difficult time, which bears the deep marks of wounds but also of healings, to be above all a time of prayer and generosity. I would like to thank for their help and support all our listeners and volunteers who give their time every day to broadcast Radio Maria. Thanks to their efforts, 570 mobile studios broadcast daily from almost 4,000 parishes and local communities. Without this silent army of believers, Holy Mass, liturgies, daily catechesis and the voice of the Holy Father would not reach nearly seven hundred million people every day in seventy-eight countries. Vittorio Viccardi, President
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STAKEHOLDERS’ MAP ACTIVITY PROJECTS
INSTITUTIONAL ACTIVITY
Donors
States/Governments
Consultants
Vatican
Suppliers
International Donor Insitutions Partner Ngos
Universities Students of Peace Journalism Listeners
Local Churches Dioceses
WF ASSOCIATED MEMBERS WF STAFFAND VOLUNTEERS CONTINENTAL OFFICES
Radio Partners IT Suppliers
Technical Task Force
Satellite Supplier
STRATEGIC SERVICES ACTIVITIES 7
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OUR FAMILY The members of World Family of Radio Maria Onlus are, pursuant to the Bylaws, individual not-for-profit associations. At the end of 2020, there were 77 members. Four new members were accepted during the year: → Radio Maria Limited – Australia → Associazione Voce di Maria – Svizzera (Ticino) → The Voice of Mary from Nazareth – Israele → Association Peace and Charity Erbil – Iraq World Family of Radio Maria is committedly dedicated to training, informing, sustaining the social and cultural growth of peoples, and enhancing the human person through media and the radio. This can be achieved thanks to the participation of many people-volunteers, professionals, listeners, supporters who, with their dedication and generosity, make it possible to reach those who, near or very far, often live at the margins of society. Each person who takes part in World Family of Radio Maria offers their talents for this purpose. The gift of faith transforms the seemingly impossible into a living reality. The gift of generosity helps us reach many unknown brothers and sisters who are thus able to live God’s love and the comfort of a serene life.
TOTAL NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
TOTAL NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS
22
5 women
29 women
17 men
71 men (75 abroad + 25 in italy)
AGE GROUPS
less than 30 years old
100
between 30 and 39 years old
between 40 and 49 years old
50 and above
WF has volunteers in Italy and abroad: in Italy they are active in the two offices in Rome and Erba, while abroad they are involved in projects and activities that WF carries out. 9
WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA
OUTSOURCING CONTRACTS As WF provides high technological services to many partners, it hires consultants and firms which assure high quality standards of such services. The main servies are: → Satellite connection for radios → Online streaming → Web related services → Radio & audio frequency technical assistance (Technical Task Force)
RADIO FREQUENCY TECHNICAL SUPPORT TO HELP RADIOS MAINTAIN EFFICIENTLY THEIR NETWORKS
STREAMING TO ALLOW RADIOS TO BE HEARD VIA INTERNET
SATELLITE LINK TO ALLOW RADIOS TO BROADCAST IN WIDER AREAS
FUND RAISING TOOLS AND DATABASE
WEBSITE SUPPORT TO HELP RADIOS IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES TO START AND RUN THEIR WEB SITES
TO HELP PARTNERS TO MANAGE EFFICIENTLY THEIR CONTACTS
INTRANET PLATFORM TO IMPROVE COMMUNICATION AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE AMONG PARTNERS
WORLDWIDE CONGRESS
CONTINENTAL CONFERENCES
TO HELP PERSONNEL AND VOLUNTEERS TO GROW PROFESSIONALLY AND TO BOOST FAMILY SPIRIT BEYOND THEIR BOUNDARIES
EVERY THREE YEARS TO GROW TOGETHER AS THE FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA IN THE WORLD
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WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA
THE PROJECTS World Family worked in 78 countries in the world. In the year 2020 there were 72 projects in progress, here we report few of them, chosen for their particular importance in the country and the impact they have on the people who benefit from them. Radio Maria is a hand reaching out to all persons of good will, encouraging them in the difficult moments of their lives so that they may look to the future with confidence. Our voice reaches their hearts and calls to them. WFRM responds to the call to bear witness to God’s love to those who are suffering in body or spirit, to the lonely, the elderly, the poor, and the imprisoned. We speak of the hope of eternal life to all. Investments in technological
78
Countries
86 Associations 22
other local sub stations in Africa
more then
20,000 volunteers
2,339 repeaters of which 546 DAB
56 languages spoken in the different programs
more then
690,000,000
Population reached in FM and DAB by Radio Maria 12
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development are necessary, however, to enable this voice to reach those who are not reached by anyone else, wherever they may be. There is still a lot to do, especially in Africa and Asia where the harvest is abundant and conversions are numerous. Radio Maria, thanks to WFRM’s assistance, can be of great help in supporting the Church and participating in its mission of evangelization. New projects, however, need everyone’s support so that others can be given what so many have already received.
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GIVING A VOICE TO THE VOICELESS.
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AFRICA
ASIA/OCEANIA
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9
for a total of 46 Stations Broadcasting in Local Languages
37,700,000
Countries
Countries People Reached by Radio Maria’s Signal
143,300,000
People Reached by Radio Maria’s Signal
72
ACTIVE PROJECTS IN 2020
EUROPE
THE AMERICAS
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20
260,000,000
251,000,000
Countries
Countries
People Reached by Radio Maria’s Signal
People Reached by Radio Maria’s Signal
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SOME OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS
AFRICA Empowering Children to Protect Themselves
This project is targeted at eradicating child abuse in the Tanzanian Church and society. In collaboration with Tanzanian Social Services and Radio Maria Tanzania, a group has trained for six months on recognizing child abuse, the rights of the whole child, radio broadcasting techniques, and social welfare. After their training, these young people organized radio programs to educate their peers on defending themselves from verbal, physical, and sexual abuse, and in particular, on how to prevent such abuse by recognizing the behaviors and types of communication that lead to abuse. These activities are not limited to the radio but also take place in the local communities scattered throughout the country that are interested in developing this type of education: groups of children and parents in parishes and schools participating in the project receive training both to provide formation, but also to help and support abuse victims by involving the appropriate local authorities. These groups have manly been formed in rural and remote areas where there are few other educational opportunities, such as in Ifakara in the Morogoro Region, Nkuhungu and Kisasa in the Dodoma Region, and Mtwara, the capital city of the Mtwara Region. A large number of listeners have given positive feedback on the program, sharing that they learned a lot and recognized that some attitudes and behaviors that have deep roots in their culture are actually contrary to the development and respect for the child. Many parents have learned how to teach their children to recognize and denounce abusive words and behaviors from people they encounter in the various environments where children gather. The Church, social services, local nongovernmental organizations, and other media are interested in the program and new partnerships have emerged that will broaden the project’s impact.
Let’s Learn by Playing
In Mozambique, a project for the informal education of young persons has been launched along with the help of Radio Maria Mozambique. Its goal is to reach youths from both urban and rural areas in the southern part of the country by broadcasting radio programs made by other young persons. This project takes its basis from the idea that the learning process for children and adolescents is improved through play, strengthening their sense of autonomy, reflection, 17
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SOME OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS
and creativity. In this way, children develop in their social, cultural, cognitive, emotional, and psychological spheres. In fact, play is a process in which the child communicates with themself and with the outside world. This project includes a series of radio games that not only entertain children from the ages of six to sixteen, but that also develop their memory, attention, imagination, and personality.
A Unity of Differences
Communicating for forging connections. The project for cultural enrichment between the various ethnicities in Kenya aims at promoting knowledge of the cultures of the various ethnic groups that populate Kenya. Knowing the traditions, values, and customs of ethnicities that are different from one’s own enriches not only individuals, but also communities and an entire society composed of different ethnic groups all living within the borders of the same nation. In Kenya, Kikuyu, Luo, Pokot, and Maasai—to name just a few of the country’s most numerous ethnic groups—all live together, which can represent a threat to stability and dialogue, but can also be an example of integration and unity. This project seeks to promote the harmonious co-habitation of peoples through mutual understanding. Radio programs and cultural gatherings have increased the exchange of knowledge concerning the many ethnic backgrounds of others in the country and, as a result, have fostered peace and development. In particular, during this time of the Covid-19 pandemic, and especially in rural areas, radio communications have become almost the only way to learn and to stay informed at all ages.
Family, a Community for Growing
This project, which aims at disseminating knowledge regarding the family, especially in the African cultures, has grown out of a collaboration between the John Paul II Institute for Studies on Marriage and the Family’s Cotonou branch in Benin and Radio Maria Togo. Some of the courses taught by the institute’s university professors have been “translated” for radio broadcast to a wider Togolese audience. The institute’s students, who come from a variety of African countries, are learning how to frame these issues in a way that is suitable for a wide-ranging audience, such as radio listeners can be. The project has plans for both the formation of these students in special seminars and for producing programs to be broadcast by Radio Maria Togo, which can then be made available to other interested African stations, particularly the Frenchlanguage ones. 18
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SOME OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS
ASIA/OCEANIA The First Radio Maria in Arabic
Radio Mariam was born in December of 2015 in response to a desire expressed by the Holy See. It is an extension of the Radio Maria project, in Arabic, to be a sign of hope and a voice for peace for those in Middle Eastern countries. It is headquartered in Rome and broadcasts via the web and satellite. Working with Radio Mariam has made it possible to bring programs of support and training to populations affected by war, especially to young persons. Activities are directed not only from the headquarters, but also through mobile studios operating in the Middle East, in particular, in Jordan Lebanon, Syria, and Egypt. There are already tens of thousands of listeners in these countries. Working with Radio Mariam has made it possible to support an increasing number of people in the area and to involve them in cultural and educational activities—particularly for youth, who are often forced to emigrate from disastrous situation of war and economic collapse. The hope being broadcast to them through on-site projects coordinated by the Radio Mariam team brings joy and serenity, even in difficult situations of the great social hardship that comes from war and poverty.
Voice of Peace in the Middle East
Thanks to the collaboration with Radio Maria Iraq, radio repeaters have been installed to broadcast Radio Maria’s signal over the entire plain of Nineveh, including the city of Mosul and many other places tormented by Isis. The persecution of Christians and its repercussions have caused depopulation, a climate of fear, and mistrust among the various ethnic groups. The Radio Maria project, working together with the Radio Maria Iraq Association, has made it possible to spread a message of fraternity and peace, especially to the youngest ones. Collaborating with local parishes and cultural associations, local movements are being formed with the goal of creating cultural training seminars for hundreds of young persons from all over the country. Radio Maria Iraq has thus transformed itself into an exceptional social promoter of peace and support for local churches and populations.
A Radio in Support of the Marginalized
The Radio Maria India Association is headquartered in the state of Kerala. In recent years, this region of India has suffered various emergencies. There have been 20
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many natural disasters, floods, droughts, added to which has been the coronavirus pandemic, which has claimed many victims including Radio Maria India volunteers and collaborators. In these difficult times, Radio Maria India, working with the Diocese of Kochi, has made it possible to provide support to the local populations, especially as a spokesperson of a humanitarian aid organization. Through support of volunteers, the association has coordinated the distribution of tons of food and basic necessities. The same volunteers have contributed to building barriers during the floods and facilitating the distribution of medicine and food. The important role of social communicator, broadcasting information for the public — the majority of which are poor persons with little education — during the crises, and particularly the pandemic, needs to be emphasized. Many programs with instructions on protocols for the sanitation and actions necessary for reducing contagion and promoting health and hygiene were broadcast. Radio audiences, especially among the resource-poor population, multiplied. 21
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EUROPE A Voice of Peace and Unity
Since May of 2020, popular protests and clashes with the armed forces—due to the country’s critical internal situation—have rocked Belarus. In this violent context, Radio Maria Belarus has been even more active in spreading the Gospel message of peace and love. To date, the station has remained one of the few Catholic media that are still broadcasting and ensuring a nearness to the people. This is why the World Family, despite many limits and obstacles, has guaranteed a maximum economic, institutional, and spiritual support for the station and its staff. The road ahead is still long, but Radio Maria Belarus continues to work and pray so that peace, unity, and hope for a better society can soon be restored.
A Voice of Hope from Shkodër for the Whole World
Our radio station, headquartered in Albania’s capital city of Tirana, has decided to offer a renewed service from the studios in Shkodër, a city in the north of the country, almost at the border with Montenegro. The move to our new “home” has already taken place, even if the works to renovate the studios will be completed later. The World Family has made itself exceptionally available, both for the structural project as well as for the supply of modern technological broadcasting equipment, which will allow us to offer a greater number of programs and to transmit them with an absolute quality. Issues of spirituality, human promotion, and culture are being broadcast, not only for the Albanian population, but for listeners around the world, making Albanians feel united and close to their homeland, their families, and their Church.
English-Speaking Culture Opens up to Radio Maria
For several years, the World Family has been investing significant energy and resources to reach the United Kingdom: obtaining DAB frequencies (in Cambridge and London), and offering technological and financial aid, and staff training. In 2020, the efforts became a reality, with daily programming from the famous university town. Despite the limitations caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the groundwork has been laid for promotional efforts, in creating volunteer groups, and in broadcasting live from various sanctuaries. Europe’s English-speaking world has opened its doors to Radio Maria’s mission, which will allow different cultures and societies to dialogue, to meet one another, and to grow. 23
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SOME OUR MOST SIGNIFICANT PROJECTS
THE AMERICAS An Integral Formation of the Person
2020 was marked by the pandemic and the situation in Chile has been of one of suffering from the many difficulties it has created. This is why the World Family has supported Radio Maria Chile by providing institutional support in revising the programming schedule and in creating specific programs to inform and support the population. In this way, among others, two specific programs that should be highlighted were born: “With You at Home”(Contigo en Casa) and “Radio Lessons”(Radio Enseña). The first is a daily two-hour program that offers listeners a discussion with different guests, mainly professionals such as doctors, lawyers, and teachers, among others, to help them understand current events and offer them ideas about major issues. “Radio Lessons” is a program that was created in collaboration with the “Enseña Chile” Foundation and Radio Maria Chile and came about because of the suspension of in-school classes. The programs provide academic support for children so that they can get information on and ideas for completing their various courses.
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Woman: A Fundamental Figure for Society
Guatemala, a Central American country, has great cultural and natural wealth, being a prosperous developing nation. Nevertheless, as is characteristic of the region, it has a very complex reality: large sections of the population, especially women are living in extreme poverty, cut off from global assistance in health, education, housing, and job opportunities. This has led many to migrate from their place of origin in search of wider horizons where they might find greater economic prosperity. This reality became even harsher with 2020’s Covid-19 pandemic. In this context, the Radio Maria project offers support, training, and information to the population in order to give hope and new prospects for development. The World Family has provided assistance, economic support, and radio and audio frequency materials with the goal of expanding the station’s coverage to the western part of the country. Additionally, space has been made in the schedule for programs of information, support, and the advancement of women. An example is the program “A Time for Everything” (Todo tiene su tiempo), which is dedicated to women, and which focuses on issues of self-esteem, the value that women have in God’s eyes, and the fundamental role they play in society. This is especially important in societies such as Guatemala’s, where the value of women needs to be better appreciated. 25
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BRINGING HOPE TO THE HOPELESS.
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THE INTEGRAL FORMATION OF THE PERSON THROUGH THE RADIO SOME AREAS OF SOCIAL TECHNICAL AND EDUCATIONAL PROJECTS Manufacture/supply, production conditions → On site visits by skilled personnel → Feasibility studies → Technical projects → Training programmes → Provision of equipment
Assistance and assembly services → Assembling equipment, production and transmission systems → Final testing → Conformity of standard to international law requirements
Training → Volunteer training → Assistance during the set up and selection of the teams and managerial training (first selection on site, followed by training in Italy of the area managers) → On-site training programmes (technical editorial personnel and sector experts sent for on-site training) → Initial operational assistance through continental managers (with specialists of the continental area on hand) → Supervision of internal audit (visit by internal personnel for verification purposes: regularity audit and performances audit)
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THE INTEGRAL FORMATION OF THE PERSON THROUGH THE RADIO Sectors of development to which World Family and her partners are committed in order to improve life of people → Empowerment of Vulnerable People → Human Rights → Health Education → Peace and Development → Alphabetization → Food Security and Agriculture → Education for Sustainability → Local Culture Support
Activities in professional training area
Educating, informing, sustaining social and cultural growth, and recognizing the worth of the human person through the medium of radio: this is the World Family of Radio Maria’s commitment. On going formation and capacity building are key activities to develop people skills and consequently advance in a world where technology runs fast. WF invests every year in people by training them and creating opportunities to grow. WF believes that sharing experiences is one of the ways people learn faster and better.
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WORLD FAMILY OF RADIO MARIA
IT’S BEAUTIFUL TO BE PART OF A GROWING FAMILY.
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OUR NUMBERS FINANCIAL RESOURCES contribution from members → 6,934,988 other donation from members → 3,208,026 donation from third parties private → 23,475 public - 5*1000 → 822,284 other incomes → 120,116 29% totale → 11,108,889
7%
1%
11
MLN 62%
FOR ONE EURO DONATED
0.18 0.82
0.2%
running costs → 0.18 cents projects (including strategic services) → 0.82 cents
12% 18%
DISTRIBUTION OF RESOURCES
11
MLN
running costs → 2,036,807 strategic services → 1,326,149 projects → 7,693,724 totale → 11,056,680
70% Independent Certification / Attestation of the Financial Statements Every year financial statements are submitted to auditing and certification by an independent company. Also for the year 2019 the auditing firm was KPMG S.p.A. 33
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“Keep always in mind that you offer something great and unique: Christian hope, which is much more than simple spiritual consolation because it is based upon the power of the Resurrection, witnessed to by faith and works of charity. Therefore, let us place under Mary’s protective mantle your Radio, the people and the families of those who work there, your plans for the future, and all your listeners. I bless all of you and your work”. Message from Pope Francis’ address to the World Family of Radio Maria given at the Vatican, 29 October 2015
THANK YOU
BECAUSE RADIO MARIA PROJECT
LIVE WITH YOUR HELP 34
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