ORGANISATIONS

Radio Workshop trains youth across Africa to make radio and podcasts. It supports them with training, production tools, and mentoring so that their reporting is fact-based, engaging, and responsive to the needs and concerns of their listeners.

Founded in 2006 as the Children’s Radio Foundation, it has trained over 5,000 youth reporters at more than 100 radio stations in 10 countries in Africa, reaching up to 9 million listeners weekly.

Attending the Μedia Village will be:

Martha O'Donovan is the Program Director at Radio Workshop, where she has spent over a decade in various roles, including Program Manager, Innovations Associate, Fundraiser, and Intern.

Originally from the United States, she has been based in Harare, Zimbabwe since 2016, where she continues to support youth-led media and civic engagement across the region. Martha is deeply committed to youth activism, storytelling, and creating platforms for inclusive community dialogue.

Before joining Radio Workshop full-time, she worked with Magamba Network in Zimbabwe and conducted research in Zambia through the MTV-U Fulbright Scholarship. She holds a BA from New York University, where her studies focused on urban studies, human rights, media, and postcolonial African history.

Lesedi Mogoatlhe is the Editorial Director of the Radio Workshop podcast, where she leads with a deep commitment to youth-led and inclusive storytelling. She brings over 15 years of experience in storytelling, training, and production, and has played a key role in mentoring young people across Africa to produce powerful audio content.

Lesedi also works closely with LGBTI+ activists and organizations in Zimbabwe, Zambia, and South Africa, supporting them to share their stories through podcasting. Before joining Radio Workshop, she worked in television and film as a documentary director and writer.

She holds an MA in Documentary Filmmaking from the University of Sussex and is a certified development coach through the UCT Graduate School of Business and the Centre for Coaching. Through every medium she works in, Lesedi is driven by a passion for amplifying underrepresented voices and helping others tell stories that matter in their communities.

Dhashen Moodley is the Senior Producer at Radio Workshop, with over 18 years of experience crafting compelling stories across public radio, television, and podcasts.

His career has spanned continents and platforms, with contributions to The New York Times, NPR, Radiolab, 99% Invisible, BBC, Foreign Policy, Audible, Channel 4 News UK, Voice of America, Vanity Fair, VICE, and Dateline. Dhashen previously served as a special correspondent to the United Nations in New York and has been recognized with fellowships from institutions including the United Nations, Bloomberg, Radio Netherlands, the U.S. State Department (IVLP), the Earth Journalism Network, and several universities.

He holds a Bachelor of Commerce in Marketing and Management, along with certifications in newsroom management, data journalism, and science reporting. Through his work, Dhashen remains committed to impactful storytelling that informs, challenges, and inspires audiences around the world.

Mike Rahfaldt is the Executive Producer of Radio Workshop, a non-profit organization that develops and supports youth-led radio and podcasting projects across Africa.

Originally from the United States, Mike has been based in Cape Town for over two decades, where he continues to champion youth media as a tool for civic engagement and social change.

Before joining the Radio Workshop in 2007, Mike taught journalism, media studies, and social anthropology at the University of Cape Town. As a journalist, his work has appeared on the BBC World Service, National Public Radio, The Guardian, and The New York Times. Mike holds a PhD in Ethnomusicology from the University of Michigan.

Nonhlanhla Mashabana is a Youth Reporter with four years of experience in telling impactful stories that elevate the voices of young people and their communities.

Her passion for journalism was born from a love of words and the power they hold to inform, connect, and inspire. Nonhlanhla recently shared her journey into storytelling on a podcast aimed at motivating others who are just starting out. Through her reporting, she focuses on the issues that matter most to youth, using her voice to drive awareness and foster dialogue on a global scale.

Guided by a deep belief in the power of storytelling to spark change, Nonhlanhla’s goal is to contribute meaningfully to addressing the challenges facing the world today. As a proud young African storyteller, she stands for hope, resilience, and truth — and remains committed to making a difference, one story at a time.