January 21, 1998 Jerome Hule, PANA Correspondent NEW YORK (PANA) - Several U.S.-based African non-governmental organisations have launched an English language broadcast project in a collaborative effort targeting the education of immigrants from Africa and people of African descent of their rights in the country of sojourn. The broacasts, which commenced on Monday with a preview programming, are to be carried by a radio station in Rhode Island, U.S, for 45 minutes every working day. The coordinator of the project Torli Rua of Universal Human Rights Centre, Boston, said the broadcasts will reach about five million people in the north- east U.S, including, Rhode Island, Connecticut and Southern New England. Krua explained that besides his organisation, other groups involved in the project are the Collaboration of People of African Descent (Copad) and the African Initiative for Community Development. In addition to carrying out programmes for the enlightenment of African immigrants, Krua said, the broacasts will also highlight the plight of African immigrants and open debate on African issues in the United States. Krua explained that African refugee and immigrant issues receive the least attention from the U.S. government as exemplified by the lowest admission quota of 7,000 for African refugees a year, even though the continent has the worst refugee problem in the world. The project is currently discussing with African radio stations for the re- broadcast of their programmes in the U.S, Krua said, adding that the re-broadcasts from Africa are intended to keep African immigrants in the covered areas informed of developments back home. Krua said the project also intends to air interviews with African leaders to the programme listenership in the United States. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Copyright © 1998 Panafrican News Agency. All Rights Reserved. ------------------------------------------------------------------- E. Aggo Akyea 5719 Richmond Drive Madison, WI 53719 608/274-9769 [log in to unmask]