Redhill School’s Red Radio continues to provide a voice to the voiceless.
The idea for the online station came from two of the school’s English teachers at the end of 2017 who took on the project with a number of the school’s learners from grades 8 to 11.
The radio station was essentially created by learners for the learners themselves to continue to grow and shape it into something that they could be proud of.
According to the station’s manager and host Thomas Hele, the concept behind Red Radio was to ensure that the voices to the youth are heard.
“We aim to create conversations among the youth because within broadcasting and the media industry there is a lacking youth presence – especially for those under the age of 18.”
The show is completely unscripted as the school allows the hosts to create their own station.
“We have complete freedom if we want to run with a particular story. We value that trust with the school because it allows us to create good quality broadcasting that people can enjoy.”
Even though Thomas was only in Grade 8 when the radio station was created, his passion for broadcasting drove him to become among the first group of learners to join the Red Radio team in 2018.
Today Thomas is the station’s manager, hosting an hour-long show every Friday.
He added that over the years, it has been interesting to see the show not only grow into what it is today but to also see the growth and dynamic of its listeners.
“Parents and other adults have started to really grasp onto Red Radio because there is no other way that people, especially parents, are going to listen in on proper conversations among the youth.”
Over the past two years, the Grade 11 learner has experienced a number of memorable moments, taking his career in broadcasting to new heights. Earlier this year the young station manager hosted local comedian Coconut Kelz.
“That was a complete shot in the dark. I messaged her on Instagram and I was just trying to get her in. She said ‘yeah, let’s do it’ and there she was.”
At the end of last year when Redhill hosted its famous Redfest arts festival, Red Radio broadcast live to over 2 000 people in-between performances by the likes of MiCasa and Matthew Mole.
Thomas was also given the opportunity to job shadow with Primedia for two weeks.
“I got to sit in on many of the shows, spending a lot of time at 702 with the likes of Bongani Bingwa and Greg, Lucky and DJ Fresh from 947. It was an incredible learning experience.” Thomas admitted that when Red Radio first began, the team knew nothing.
“We grew and learnt as we went along. We spent a bit of time figuring it out, learning what worked and what did not work – and if something didn’t work then that is fine.”
With his sights set on hosting Miss Universe, Thomas looks forward to a future in broadcasting.
“I want to achieve a communication platform that is known throughout school as the voice of the youth.”
Listen live on the Red Radio website.
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