07. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 7 (PCF7), 2013

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Browsing 07. Pan-Commonwealth Forum 7 (PCF7), 2013 by Subject "Community Radio"
  • Publication
    A case study to demonstrate the role of community radio in Khayelitsha, South Africa, as a platform for ODL and the empowerment of mothers of children under the age of five
    ( 2013-11) White, Gail
    The adoption of community radio as a platform for ODL in Africa plays an increasingly important role in health and development interventions. This paper will explore how a training and mentorship programme contributes to the production of balanced programming that focuses on key health issues and the resultant impact on marginalised women. It will examine the relationship between a collaborative training programme with the Zibonele community radio station in Khayelitsha, South Africa, against the quality of health programming as perceived by listeners. The training programme which has two key components includes face-to-face training and continuous mentorship and support. An interactive relationship enables the radio station to develop programmes that are in line with community needs, thereby developing sustainability through participatory engagements. Throughout the apartheid era people in South Africa were classified by race and subjected to a number of segregatory laws that limited interaction between different ethnic groups. This coupled with poor access to information and low literacy levels has made community radio a popular source of informal learning. Post 1994, the community of Khayelitsha continues to rely on this platform as a source of accurate information in the vernacular language, thus reinforcing the need for capacity at community radio stations to produce quality programming that adequately reflects the needs of its listeners. // This paper will share the results of focus group discussions conducted with women living in Khayelitsha to illustrate how content development has improved over the course of 10 months and how listeners respond to the information provided by the radio station. It will attempt to show the resultant health impact on women by comparing base-line health statistics and will further demonstrate the effectiveness of mentoring and support to community radio stations as a vehicle for ODL. // Paper ID: 395
  • Publication
    Children's learning Programs and Community Radio: A case study of collaboration
    ( 2013-11) Arora, Venu
    Sesame Workshop aims to make education a more relevant and enjoyable experience to the millions of children around the world. As part of its initiative in India, Galli Galli Sim Sim began its television broadcasts in 2006. The show with its four muppets : Chamki, Boombah, Googly and Anchoo entertained the children while simultaneously imparting significant educational messages and learning skills. Considering that television penetration in India is still in a growth phase, there are many pockets, which do not have access to television especially, cable television. // The SCHWAB Radiophone Project therefore enabled the broadcast of the Galli Galli Sim Sim show for a year, over ten community radio stations across North India, to reach children in rural areas of the country. With mobile telephony becoming popular, the Sesame initiative has integrated access to the GGSS radio show via mobile phones thus enhancing access to the show. // Community Radio stations are a new phenomenon in India the oldest Radio station being less than ten years old. The CR stations function at a local level with minimal resources and basic equipment to create participatory programming. The Radiophone initiative provided a unique opportunity for stations to access centrally produced program with extremely high production values from Sesame Workshop and create a local adjunct to the program through local participation and engagement. // Ideosync, India conducted an impact evaluation for the Radiophone initiative. The evaluation research used ethnographic methodologies (among others) to study the change at each station and its listening communities as a result of the Radiophone initiative. The findings reveal interesting outcomes that were not necessarily part of the initial objectives of the initiative. Participatory and ethnographic research approaches have helped document CR stations' internal process strengthening and capacity building that resulted as a bi product of the collaborative initiative. // The research presents an analysis of the data emerging from Diaries written by community researchers working at the CR stations to discuss how the combination of a centrally produced Development Radio program and Community Media play out in the Community Radio space. The paper further proposes a new discourse for opportunities that could contribute to strengthening of small local media institutions. // Paper ID: 462
  • Publication
    Community Radio and Health Development in Rural Cameroon: An Impact Evaluation of COL-Cameroon Link Program in Lebialem SWR, Cameroon
    ( 2013-11) Afutendem, Lucas N
    Community radios are key role players and important change makers in establishing and promoting healthy trends and life styles. In an effort to educate, protect, support and promote mother and child health care best practices in rural communities, COL-Cameroon Link Partnership turned to Lebialem Community Radio, Menji, South West Region, Cameroon and in active collaboration with local stakeholders, initiated and have been running a program titled "Asogha legung emeh boh mua" (Talk on Mother and Child Health Care) in October 2011. After three years of program implementation, we evaluated it from various angles and to set up an ongoing process of dialogue between project funders, beneficiaries, government, health officials and civil society. We evaluate the development, implementation and impact of the new approach to health. // Data was collected from a sample of 120 respondents. It was analyzed with descriptive statistics using frequency distribution and percentage. Target Group Interviews (TGI) and participant observation techniques (POT) were used to evaluate the program, to obtain qualitative information about the views of beneficiaries, government and civil society, and to assess program development and implementation. Respondents expressed their knowledge, opinions and concerns about mother and child health especially breast-feeding. // The findings revealed that 70% of listeners indicated that the program was relevant to the mother and child health care information needs. 80% of respondents admitted that they gained some new knowledge through listening to the program and that all efforts should be made to sustain it. However, some constraints were observed as irregularity of broadcast and non-access of the radio waves in certain localities. The results offer advice on additional considerations that should be taken into account when setting up the project in other communities. Conclusions are followed with suggestions for the way forward. // Paper ID: 100
  • Publication
    Community Radio in Bangladesh: Emergence of a new School of Open Non-formal Education (ONFE)
    ( 2013-11) Rahman, Mizanoor ; Panda, Santosh
    Bangladesh Open University (BOU) runs both formal and non-formal education (NFE) programmes using open and distance learning (ODL) mode where broadcast media (radio-TV) plays a vital role. BOU extensively uses electronic media for its 19 open-NFE (ONFE) programmes from the inception to provide information to mass people as a part of its awareness building activities. Radio has been very useful media because it is operationally low-cost and easily accessible; that’s why - open universities/distance education institutes in different countries have been using the community radio (CR) for ONFE with local dialects. The Ministry of Information, Government of People’s Republic of Bangladesh already approved 14 CR initiators for installation and operation of community radio in Bangladesh first time to provide livelihood related information to the rural communities in an understandable way on agriculture, education, health, disaster, women and child issues, market price, services, etc. It is reported that 13 out of 14 are from NGOs because they are very active in implementing the ONFE at the community level; only one license has been issued to Agriculture Information Services, a government body, in the name of “Krishi Radio”. Through issuing license for CR, government just opened the door of the third tier broadcasting in the country to spread the scope of the NFE through distance learning and NGOs will use broadcast media in an innovative way for implementing the NFE. This also created the opportunity for developing public-private partnership (PPP), say between BOU-NGO, model for distance learning and a platform of the alternative approach that is the ‘School of NFE’. This step of the broadcasting will be of great value for the BOU to use community radio for expanding ONFE from its Regional Resources Centres (RRCs) under PPP model with the local NGOs. This paper discusses these issues and finally recommend for the expansion of ONFE in the country using community radio as low-cost and effective media. // Paper ID: 95
  • Publication
    Educating grassroots girls and women through Community Learning Programme: CLP using Community Radio in Bangladesh
    ( 2013-11) Sabuj, Saifuddin
    The primary education system in Bangladesh is one of the largest systems in the world. Though the country has undertaken a number of measures to improve primary education since its independence, recent Ministry of Primary & Mass Education statistics report shows 51% girls get enrolled in primary school but do not complete and dropout rate is 64%. Similarly, 59% of the adult illiterate is women. // Rupantar is concerned with the education of illiterate and semi-literate listener, especially women and girl, living in the rural areas of Bangladesh. We are working with 3 community radio (CR) stations using CLP method. Placing great emphasis on involvement and participation of community male-female in plan, design and production process we developed 3 plans on health and designed a series of radio production (on going). // The target learners are vulnerable to health like Adolescent Health, Reduce suicide through mental health support, Prevention awareness on Filariafis disease. Programs are produced based on field visit to get suggestion, record discussion-interview, drama from learners especially women and girls who are illiterate or semi-literate. // The main aim is to impart non-formal education through CR, interactivity between learners and CLP staff through field visit, discussion, letter and SMS. Regular visit help the project keep up to date with rural people. // It is unique for- 1) we produce programs for the rural illiterate and semi-illiterate women-girls; 2) we keep in touch with them through weekly field visit and recording; 3) we listen to the program with target learner every week and discuss to know their comments, suggestions and help illiterate learners to fill out questionnaire given as quiz in the program. // We have found changes while conducting workshop, face to face discussion with the target learners and it’s been creating positive impact and interest among the community. // Paper ID 419
  • Publication
    An effective community learning process on promotion of Integrated Management of Childhood Illness and Safe Motherhood: A case study of a participatory radio program ( Phukusi la Moyo), Mchinji district, Malawi
    ( 2013-11) Banda, Florida M
    Phukusi la Moyo is a radio magazine program which combines formal radio listenership and face to face discussion by group members. The program is concerned with maternal and child health and started in 2009 as a community initiative through women groups which is one of Maimwana Research project intervention implemented to improve the lives of mothers and children in rural areas of the district.: That The women groups aim is to identify their maternal and child health problems, analyze, identify solutions, implement and evaluate on sustainable base; hers That health education was identified as one of the effective strategies to help reduce maternal and child deaths, however health education information was not accessible to some groups due to shortage of health workers. Then the women’s groups agreed to lobby for a health education program to be aired at the existing community radio station– Mudziwathu to enable them share their experiences to the wider communities. Maimwana staff was informed of the idea and helped to link the groups with the radio station and the Ministry of health. Commonwealth of Learning was contacted and funded the whole programming process. // The program is being managed by a collaboration of partners Maimwana, Mchinji District Hospital, Mudziwathu Community Radio Station and community representatives. They all participate in program messages development, production and giving feedback on member’s perceptions on listened programs. The program has been implemented in three phases with funding from CoL and fourth phase is Maimwana funding. The program resulted into great improvements in health care and health care seeking behaviour, increased awareness on maternal and child health issues which signifies the effectiveness of the radio program on maternal and child health. // Paper ID: 170
  • Publication
    Empowering rural disadvantaged pupils using Community Radio
    ( 2013-11) Ssenabulya, James S
    Radio broadcasting is a powerful tool that enables communication to many isolated rural villages and towns in developing countries. For many of these rural communities, radio broadcasts are often the only effective way to solicit important information to a large audience. // Most recently in Uganda, and Nakaseke in particular, community operated educational programmes are being broadcast to remote localities in an effort to reach students that have limited access to educational resources. // Innovation: Collaboration with Teachers and other Education Managers. // Education as one the station’s main programme foci and considering the low literacy levels and poor academic performance of pupils in the impoverished district, the radio embarked on an effort to find a solution to the challenge. This was through collaboration with education managers at district level and teachers. // The radio provided space and availed airtime for the show and the teachers formed an examination board and came up with a question bank, where examiners chose questions for the day. // Lots of challenges were experienced in the process ranging from training teachers in the use of the technology i.e; equipment handling, modulation, recording and other areas to facilitation. In-house trainings were conducted and the spirit of voluntarism and ownership was slowly developed and now teachers feel part of the station. // With this collaboration and division of roles, schools are registered, seeded and drawn into groups after which competition starts. The program runs live once every week as three schools are hosted, each represented by two pupils in a live question and answer session, conducted by a panel of examiners. The winning school advance to a next round and the process continues up to the final stage. // According to assessments and evaluations conducted every year by the station, district education authorities and the Teachers’ Union to determine the progress of the sector in the district, the competition has helped in; • Promoting confidence among the learners • Raising the academic standards in the district. • Increasing the number of first grades. • Enabling teachers to evaluate their teaching • Exposing the pupils to an educational environment beyond the classroom. // Paper ID: 25
  • Publication
    How can OLD and CR play role in mitigating impacts of climate change damage: Bangladesh Perspective
    ( 2013-11) Chowdhury, Badrul H
    Bangladesh is considered one of the worst victims of global climate change due to her geographical location,agrarian economy and high population density.Increased temperatures will add more problems for the country. While a torrent of melt-water from the Himalayan glaciers flow the rivers, causing soil erosion of coastal zones, including Sunderban mangrove forest, are being threatened by rising sea levels. Furthermore, saline water will creep into agricultural lands from the coastal belt leading to reduction of crops and rising temperature may bring new infections and bacterial diseases in the country.Bangladesh non-formal programs from Open university(BOU) and newly launched Community Radio(CR) stations simultaneously can play a vital role to reduce the problem.At present BOU has strong media coverage throughout the country and its non-formal educational programs through national TV and radio have emerged as a very popular and blissful program.Apart from this,recently community radio(CR) is also introduced and started their activity in full swing in the country.Its acceptance is increasing day by day. Through broadcasting non formal programs on climate change issues, BOU and existing CR stations can get a meteoric success in building timely awareness and minimizing the impacts of climate change.In this connection,BOU needs to strengthen its radio and TV programs involving leading experts in climate change research. BOU authorities may include and Interactive Community Radio (ICR) set within its Media Centre for regular and timely broadcasting program.It is believed that,if ICR add with BOU’s current facilities then its effectiveness will be increased in manifold.Present Government of Bangladesh is considering BOU’s ODL and CR as country’s development tools.In this backdrop, government is considering to provide educational channel with terrestrial TV facilities at BOU’s Media Centre so that 24-hour uninterrupted educational programs can be broadcasted.The government wants to flares CR stations across the country.Side by side, BOU will strengthen its radio facilities for its targeted people.I do believe, country’s devastating climate change impact will get a new lease of life if we successfully use BOU’s present ODL facilities and existing CR stations.The paper will discuss how the nation can get outmost help from BOU & CR in this regard. // Paper ID: 46
  • Publication
    Participation Leads to Ownership and Sustainability of a Radio Program: A Case Study of Local Women’s Groups’ Sponsorship of Phukusi la Moyo (a bag of life) Radio Program in Malawi
    ( 2013-11) Makowa, Gladson ; Simbi, Charles
    Phukusi la Moyo, a health, Integrated Management of Child Illnesses and Safe Motherhood radio program started with funding from Commonwealth of Learning (COL) in 2009. The program went through three phases all funded by COL. It reached the point of dying because of lack of funding. The partner, Ministry of Health, who had promised to continue funding through district assembly, failed. Why? The women’s groups having seen and experienced more good results than they had expected when they were demanding it, decided to serve their brain-child from dying by contributing cash for airtime at Mudzi wathu (In My Village) Community Radio. Some results included kind and good healthcare provision from health service providers, support from their husbands and village headmen, among others. The program succeeded in achieving the goal of providing the non-formal education to the communities surrounding Mchinji and Mudzi Wathu Community Radio Catchment area in giving the women’s groups discussion platform for health and safe motherhood issues, some of which are taboo and gender oppression on women and children. // The results did not come on silver-platter but took several scrutinizes and changes of strategies to finally encourage women’s groups to fund the program during transition periods. This paper therefore discusses strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats which Phukusi la Moyo program well managed to reach fourth phase, now funded by Maimwana, the pioneer and major stakeholder. The project fulfills the theory that communities’ participation in programs conceptualization, designing, planning, and monitoring makes the project sustainable. // Paper ID: 157
  • Publication
    Proposal for a Roundtable
    ( 2013-11) Akingbulu, Akin
    Stakeholders in Nigeria launched an advocacy for the development of community broadcasting in early 2000s. The participation base of that advocacy expanded over the years such that today, the umbrella organization which emerged – Nigeria Community Radio Coalition – has more than 500 members spread in all parts of the country. Among the achievements of the advocacy have been Government recognition of the importance of community broadcasting, demonstrated in the design of a policy document. The licencing of radio stations in campuses of academic communities. The acquisition of capacity to establish community radio stations by grassroots communities in various parts of the country Despite these achievements, many challenges remain. They include: Government pronouncement has not been translated by the regulator into licencing of grassroots community radio stations. Licenced and functioning campus radio stations face stringent regulatory oversight. Academic institutions have not provided appropriate curriculum and learning space which would produce practitioners with appropriate knowledge, skills and passion for community based broadcasting. This roundtable intends to bring together stakeholders in Nigerian community based broadcast/participatory media such as members of the Nigeria Community Radio Coalition, campus radio operators, Information Resource Centre (IRC) operators in the Niger Delta, academics, regulators, policy makers, practitioners in the ODL sector, etc. It will also accommodate participants from other parts of the world e.g. India, South Africa, Canada, Ghana, etc who have vital experiences, including those similar to Nigeria’s, to share. The roundtable will discuss challenges confronting the development of community (including campus) broadcasting in Nigeria, learn lessons from other parts of the world, and develop recommendations which advocates and policy makers in Nigeria will engage after the programme. This activity is expected to be held over lunch on two consecutive days during the PCF7. // Paper ID: 394