Radio Sagarmatha, the first community FM radio station in South Asia, has launched a fund-raising drive to build its own premises. Inspired by South African and Dutch delegates who took part at a recent international conference here of community broadcasters, the Patan-based radio is airing a fundraising campaign this week in which donors can pledge money to help the station to have its own building and become self-sufficient. Listeners can call in and pledge money to buy bricks.

"We have already collected donations worth Rs 300,000 in the first two days of the campaign," says the station's Bhupendra Basnet. Architect Keshab Bidari has offered to design the proposed building for free, while Oxfam Nepal donated over Rs 60,000. Sagarmatha FM 102.4 started in 1997 and now has over one million listeners in Kathmandu Valley, and has promoted public debate on governance, corruption and environmental issues. Bhairab Risal, a senior journalist at the station says, "Money should not be the problem. The challenge now is to give continuity and retain credibility." The campaign aims to raise Rs 2.5 million.