Despite limited opportunities in his rural community, Replay Ndlovu found a way to reach for his dream which has now manifested as a clever community radio station inspiring others!
Hazyview, South Africa (21 June 2024) — Rural areas are not known for being hubs of opportunity. And for many young South Africans who don’t move to big cities to seek better opportunities, chances to grow in their dreams can feel few and far between. But one determined young dreamer decided to make the most of what was in front of him and began pursuing his goal to bring joy and entertainment to his community by way of a community radio station!
Katlego Replay Ndlovu has become a gem to his community in Hazyview, Mpumalanga, and has even been hailed as a hometown hero for showing people that dreams can blossom even when resources are limited.
Replay, also known as DJ Reece, is a social entrepreneur and a graduate of the Bridging Year Academy and Facilitator Academy of the Good Work Foundation. Through his creative ventures, he and his team are slowly but surely transforming the landscape of community ‘infotainment’ throughout the small towns of Mpumalanga!
Replay founded an online community radio station Blue Hazy FM, which started broadcasting in 2020 (in the thick of the pandemic, no less).
The idea of starting a radio station came to him during his time at Radio Bushbuckridge, where he learnt how the industry can connect and empower people. For Replay, the need to create a community radio station for the youth in his community particularly, was obvious. And soon, the dream began in his garage.
From its humble beginnings, the station quickly gained popularity and attracted a remarkable listener base. Replay shares that to date, the station has been able to connect with over 162,000 listeners!
But what makes it extra special is that it requires as little as 100MB in data for people to stay connected for an entire day.
People can tune in to news, music, talk shows, educational content—the works. For rural communities who often feel disconnected from the rest of the country and world, the benefits of Replay and his team’s dream have been substantial.
“I was immediately drawn in by the passion of these young people who are not only innovative but community-minded, too,” shared Kate Grouch, GWF Founder who was a big source of support.
With more people investing in the idea, including tech heads, Blue Hazy FM continues to grow in its potential. One day, Replay hopes that it will be able to contribute to the potential of the communities it serves as part of a rural revolution.
“We want to give back to our community in gratitude for the support they have show our station. They motivate us to introduce more offerings, knowing that these will be supported by the people in our community. Our goal is to facilitate development within our community and hopefully inspire others to do the same.” — Replay Ndlovu.
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