For the past year, Siphesihle Magagula has been going door-to-door selling solar power. He convinced nearly all of his neighbours to buy a basic solar kit, bringing lights to about 400 homes for the first time. His neighborhood, Nomzamo, never had electricity before — despite being close to South Africa's biggest coal mines and power stations. But some of his clients are disappointed. Their solar kits don’t have enough power to run fridges or TVs. Nomzamo is just one example of South Africa's attempt at a transition away from coal but will it bring justice to the 1.6 million homes that aren't connected to the power grid?Show NotesAccess our free resources:To use our episodes on your radio show, refer to our toolkit.To host your own listening event, check out our guide.This episode is part of "Power to Change," a series of stories examining South Africa's transition from coal to renewable energy through the lives of young people living in coal communities. Listen to This Coal Life, an earlier episode in the series.We partnered with Context News, launched by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, which published a companion piece, written by Kim Harrisberg.You can visit Peco Power’s website to read more about their solar power devices and their champion network.If you want to hear more of our award-winning climate storytelling, listen to Zambia’s Sacrifice Zone.Acknowledgements:This story was reported by Siya Mokoena and Dhashen Moodley. Production assistance from Mo Isu and Malvin Shabangu. Thanks to Khuthala Environmental Care Group, GreenCape, Peco Power, VOC FM in Ermelo, and the residents of Nomzamo for their support. This episode was edited by Lesedi Mogoatlhe, with help from Kerry Donahue. Original music by Qhamani Sambu at Edible Audio in Cape Town. Sound engineering by Jo Jackson and Mike Rahfaldt. Jo Jackson is our Managing Producer. Clémence Petit Perrot is our Impact Producer with support from impact strategist Andy Jones. Mike Rahfaldt is our Executive Producer. Vuyo Lutseke is our Executive Director.This episode and the work of Radio Workshop would not be possible without support from the Doc Society, the UMI Fund, the African Climate Foundation, and the Oppenheimer Memorial Trust. Special thanks to Rob Byers, and also thanks to Hindenburg for supporting our projects across Africa with audio editing software.Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
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Out for Delivery
33-year-old Goodnews is a food delivery rider by day and an aspiring writer by night. He works 12 hours a day weaving through Lagos traffic to deliver as many orders as he can to customers. Although he is an engineering graduate, Goodnews is part of the 85% of working Nigerians unable to find formal employment. By joining the country’s growing gig economy, Goodnews now earns three times more than he has at any other job, but he says the work isn’t all roses… ________Support the work of Radio Workshop by donating today.Sign up for Radio Workshop’s newsletter on Substack, and connect with us on Instagram and LinkedIn.Show notes Sources: Rest of World - Running a food delivery service in Nigeria is hardBusinessDay Ng - Half of Nigerians earn less than 50,000 naira a monthBusiness and Human Rights Resource Centre NPR - Lagos, Nigeria’s MegacityFairwork Nigeria RatingsAcknowledgements:Luminate.Thanks to Ngozi Chukwu of Tech Cabal and Bukola Adebayo of Context News for the reporting help.Special thanks to Rob Byers, and to Hindenburg for supporting our projects across Africa with audio editing software.Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
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Nothing Wrong, Bro
When 26-year-old Shacky called his friend at midnight from a Johannesburg park, he was ready to end it all. For years, both young men had carried their struggles in silence—unemployment, family pressure, and the weight of being told to “man up” no matter what. But that night changed their friendship forever. In this deeply personal story, 23-year-old reporter Kabir Jugram explores what happens when South Africa’s sky-high youth unemployment meets the toxic expectation that men must suffer alone. ________Support the work of Radio Workshop by donating today.Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
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Young Africa. One story at a time.
Forget the Africa you think you know. This is Radio Workshop.Support the showWe can only do this work because of your support. You can make a donation at radioworkshop.org.
Forget the Africa you think you know. This is Radio Workshop. With real stories about young Africans. From Freetown to Cape Town, hear the world’s youngest population. One story at a time.
South Africa