The Drum Beat 44 - Communication and Change News and Issues

*15 new Vacancies; USD 125,000 for outstanding research; USD 125,000 for innovative development - see below 

PROGRAMMES 

1. ABCDEspanol - Latin America - teaches reading, writing and math to both school children and adults in order to motivate continued learning, develop emotional intelligence, and generate a new role for teachers as facilitators. A programme in Cartegena rewards students who have learned to read through ABCDEspanol. New readers write their first letters to the local paper. They then receive a free 3-month subscription to this paper as an incentive to continue reading and learning. Contact Javier González [email protected] 

2. SAfAIDS - Southern Africa - established in 1998 to facilitate better media understanding, communication and coverage of HIV/AIDS issues. Their media messages were created out of recommendations from a needs-assessment conducted in late 1998 in Zimbabwe, South Africa and Zambia (pilot). Activities such as training workshops and the production of "media information packs" on various themes surrounding HIV/AIDS are results of this needs-assessment. Contact Tendayi Kureya [email protected] 

3. Adopt-A-Minefield Campaign - Global - this program of the United Nations Association of the USA (UNA-USA) engages individuals, community groups, and businesses in the UN effort to remove landmines worldwide. Sponsors "adopt" minefields identified by the UN as being in urgent need of clearance. Since its launch in March 1999, the Campaign has received over $2.5 million in payments and pledges for the removal of minefields in Afghanistan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Croatia, and Mozambique. Website. Contact [email protected] 

4. Foundation for Independent Radio Broadcasting (FNR) - Russia - NGO aiming to assist in the development of independent radio, and to raise public awareness on legal, environmental and social issues in Russia. FNR broadcasts a radio soap opera, a morning news programme and PSAs targeted at younger audiences on Radio Russia and a network of more than 100 regional radio stations. Contact Veronica Dmitriyeva [email protected] 

5. US Office of Transition Initiatives (OTI) media campaigns - Global - designed, tested and produced in-country by local talent, campaigns aim to advance peaceful change in post-conflict settings worldwide. Example: a voter education campaign in Croatia that recruited 5,000 domestic election monitors and resulted in 78% voter turnout. They have a 13-minute video featuring televised PSAs from Indonesia, Nigeria and the Balkans. Contact Anne Lee [email protected] 

AWARDS 

6. Netaid.org grants - Africa & Yugoslavia - $US 1.7 million awarded in the 1st round of grants to 13 NGOs to support projects that will help fight extreme poverty across Africa and in Kosovo. Details: Website. 

7. Employer Response to HIV/AIDS - Europe - European AIDS and Enterprise Network is seeking nominations for awards for the best employer responses to HIV and AIDS. 3 categories: a) HIV and AIDS policy regarding employment and work place; b) supporting people living with HIV in remaining or returning to work; c) HIV education for the work force. Nominations: [email protected] 

8. The Global Development Network (GDN) - Global - the GDN is an NGO which aims to support and link research and policy institutes involved in the field of development. Awards are for 1) Outstanding Research on Development - US$ 125,000, and 2) Most Innovative Development Project - US$ 125,000. Contact Nadia Roumani [email protected] 

WEB SITES 

9. The European Union's HIV/AIDS Programme in Developing Countries web site has been updated. Website. 

10. OneWorld International has launched a television channel on the Internet - OneWorld TV. It will showcase documentaries on human rights issues and sustainable development and interviews with people working for global justice. Website. Contact [email protected] 

11. 5 E's Unlimited (Ecology, Economy, Equity, Education, and Evaluation) aims to affect understanding and taking action on the sustainability of coastal watersheds, rural regions, cities, communities, and neighborhoods and to share new ideas on sustainable development issues of global concern. Website. 

12. Nepal Forum of Environmental Journalists (NEFEJ) is an NGO aiming to increase environmental awareness among the public and improve the environmental state Nepal. Initiatives include Radio Sagarmatha, Ankhe Jhyal and the Environment Support Fund (ESF). Website. 

13. The Millenium Forum has a web site on which to view and comment on draft papers on issues of Peace, the Eradication of Poverty, Human Rights, Sustainable Development and the Environment, Globalization and "Strengthening and Democratizing the UN," and to register for the Forum's meeting in May 2000. Website. Contact Brad Pokorny [email protected] 

EVENTS 

14. UNICEF-Lebanon held a workshop in Beirut for advocating the Rights of the Child. Participants were from TV networks and the written press. Focus was on problems of education and child labor and discussion of communication strategies that would positively impact decision-makers, parents and children. There was wide TV coverage and articles on child-related issues were written by most participants. Follow-up workshop was recommended to evaluate impact and guide future work. Contact Aida Jammal [email protected] 

15. The Child Survival Collaborations and Resource Group's Behavior Change Communications Working Group will hold a 2-day consultative forum "Community-Centered Approaches to Behavior and Social Change" on 13-14 Apr. 2000 in Alexandria, Virginia, USA. Features case studies that demonstrate innovative approaches for promoting social and behavior change by involving and empowering communities. Register at: Website. Contact Kathleen Mueller [email protected] 

16. The Ontario Council for International Co-operation (OCIC) - Technology and Culture: Knowledge Across Borders, a 1-day forum, 8 Apr. 2000. This forum is for exchanging diverse perspectives on what the Internet means for international/community development and global education. Register at: Website. Contact [email protected] 

17. The Radio Nederland Training Centre (RNTC) is holding its Dramatisation of Information Courses (Sep. 7 - Dec. 15, 2000) for 24 radio and television drama producers from developing countries who produce drama regularly. Central theme of courses is "Environment and Energy." Fellowships will be fully paid for by the Dutch government. Application deadline is 25 Apr. 2000. Age limits for participants. Contact Turan Ali [email protected] OR [email protected]

18. Kids' World: A Dark Side of Asia", a Photo Exhibition on Cambodian Street Kids will be at The Freedom Forum Asian Center & Library in Hong Kong. Contact Ms. Sammie Leung [email protected] 

MATERIALS 

19. Call for papers - for a special issue of the Journal of International Communication on Participatory Communication for Social Change. Send abstracts by 30 June 2000. Contact Jan Servaes [email protected] OR [email protected] 

20. Call for Health Issues Scripts - for use in both puppet & radio applications. Contact Dan Henrich [email protected] 

21. "Tied up in a Rope of Sand - Theatre for Development: Cultural Action or Development Utility?" by Alex Mavrocordatos. 'Development workers...often expect people to consider new ideas and practices radically different from those they have grown up with. These are easily rejected and performers and field-workers alike...can be hastily dismissed as purveyors of unwanted or even heretical notions. Theatre for Development should exist, as a lubricant, at the interface between social circumstances and technical (project) activity.' Click here to view. Contact Alex Mavrocordatos [email protected] 

VACANCIES 

22. 15 new vacancy notices on our web site from: The Rockefeller Foundation [Senior Scientist & Regional Representative]; The Hesperian Foundation [Managing Editor & Project Associate]; the UNDP [Project Director]; the Multisectoral HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme (MAPP) of UNOPS - Asia Office [Consultant for Advocacy]; UNICEF [Consultant to the Global Polio Eradication Initiative]; SIECUS [Library Assistant]; the CHANGE Project [Director]; Common Ground Productions [Vice President and Managing Director]; Save the Children [2 Emergency Public Health Specialists]; The Voice of America [Media Research Analyst]; Media Action International [Emergencies] and PATH [IEC Programme Officer]. Visit Vacancies page. If you do not have web access, email [email protected] 

CORRECTION 

23. Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation was incorrectly listed in issue #43 as the contact for the PRO-CAARE Child forum. The Forum is located and managed by SatelLife and is on HIV and AIDS in general. Our apologies for any confusion and inconvenience. 

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