The Drum Beat 80 - Communication and Change News and Issues

PROGRAMMES

1. Projet Radio - Madagascar - a 15 month pilot project which placed freeplay radios in target villages, researched information needs of rural communities and then incorporated the needs of the assessment into local language educational broadcasts. Issues dealt with include animal husbandry, agriculture, family health, sexually transmitted diseases, and HIV/AIDS. Informational video available. Contact Yvonne Orengo [email protected]

2. BBC's "Story of Africa" Radio Programmes - Africa - a weekly series, made possible by a grant from the Rockefeller Foundation, runs for 6 months starting Feb 9. Assess the people and events that have shaped Africa, from "the dawn of man to Apartheid." Programmes broadcast in Africa only, but full broadcasts will be online Contact David Stead [email protected]

3. Alliance for TB Drug Development - Global - a partnership for the discovery of new drugs to treat TB. The Alliance unveiled a Scientific Blueprint for the discovery and development of new anti-TB drugs - Press Release.

4. Pcnairobi Mass Media Project - Nairobi - based on a pilot project (see item #2 in Drum Beat #56), the Population Council has developed a mass media education campaign on reproductive health with a weekly live radio call-in talk show to stimulate debate and fill in knowledge gaps. Newspaper supplements in the Sunday Nation (English) and Taifa Leo (Kiswahili) will use materials and questions generated from the talk shows to reinforce messages and will also serve to inform others who may not have tuned in to the radio. Letters to the editor will provide additional feedback for programming the radio talk shows. Promotional activities, posters, T-shirts and radio and newspaper competitions will further increase the target audience's exposure to information and assist in evaluating the program's impact. Contact Kwame Asiedu [email protected]

5. Water, Research & Training Centre (WRTC) for a new Burma - works to improve Burmese peoples' access to research and training opportunities and education in the sectors of water and rural studies in Burma and abroad. Also disseminates research findings and works to protect Burmese watersheds and their environment through advocacy and participation of the population. Works also to increase equal access to means of communication and learning among different indigenous peoples of Burma. Contact [email protected]

6. Fantsuam Foundation - Nigeria - a registered charity working with rural communities in Nigeria. They design and implement projects in partnership with established community groups of women, girls, and disabled persons, to enable them to achieve healthy and poverty-free standards of living. Contact http://www.fantsuam.com/

 

7. Scout Organisation for Youth Reproductive Health - Arab States - the UNFPA funded a project "Integration of Youth Reproductive Health into Boy Scouts & Girl Guides Education & Community Development Programmes". As a result of national Reproductive Health IEC and advocacy activities carried out by the Girl Guide Association, the Ministry of Education issued a decree in 1999 for the creation of a technical committee for the integration of RH concepts into school curricula and textbooks. Produced a RH training guide for BS/GG leaders with sample participatory activity sheets. Contact Abdulhalim joukhadar [email protected]

8. Scenarios from the Sahel - Senegal, Mali & Burkina Faso - an HIV/AIDS prevention project being conducted by and for adolescents and young adults. Involves a contest of scenarios for short films on HIV/AIDS. 2 contests have been held in the 3 countries so far - one in 1997, one in 2000 - run primarily by coalitions of local organisations. They have attracted over 21,000 participants under the age of 25. 7 films have been created and a further 6 films and a series of radio dramas will be created soon. Key lesson learned from the contests - this approach effectively encourages young people to explore existing sources of relevant information and creates an environment conducive to open discussion of HIV/AIDS and its many implications. The contest provides a forum for girls and boys to exchange views on topics generally considered taboo. Contact Kate Winskell [email protected]

9. Romany Women's Association in Romania (RWAR) - an NGO formed for the protection of Romany Women's rights, culture and identity. Main objectives are to improve Roma women's: situation in the working market, chances for education, and access to social health assistance. Projects have included: Youth reading/writing programme (students who had progressed in school without learning these basic skills); Internet/PC training for women; Contraceptive and family planning education project in 2 small villages; and publication of a newsletter. Plans for the future include: opening medical clinics in several small villages, economic development projects, advocacy projects for Romany women's rights. Contact Violeta Dumitru [email protected]

10. "Shiksa Yatra" March for Education - India - a 2 month march, organised by the South Asian Coalition on Child Servitude, will cover a distance of 12,000 kms, moving through 20 states, hundreds of villages and towns, and reaching out to over a million people. The first leg was launched from a village in the very south of India. All of the marches will culminate on March 21st in New Delhi. A main objective of the march is to ensure the immediate passage and implementation of the 83rd constitutional amendment bill for free, compulsory and meaningful education for children, especially girls, up to the age of 18 yrs, with increased provision of quality early childhood care. Contact Seema Gaikwad or Shiji Abraham [email protected]

11. U.S. Coalition for Child Survival Events - USA - Feb 27 Congressional Briefing on "From Disaster Relief to Education: How US Development Programs Work", Mar 21 Congressional Briefing on "The Forgotten Killers of Children: Global Infectious Diseases", Apr 7 Local Global Health forum at the University of Michigan Ann Arbor - Topic: Maternal & Child Health, Apr 25 Congressional Briefing on "Fortifying Our Children" on the issue of micro-nutrients. Contact Samantha Kopman [email protected]

AWARDS

12. International Women's Media Foundation's Courage in Journalism Award - Nominations sought to honor women journalists for extraordinary strength of character in pursuing their craft under difficult or dangerous circumstances. US$2,000 cash prizes. Deadline 15 Mar 2001. Contact Amy Johnson [email protected]

WEB SITES

13. Information Dispatch - an Internet based daily news publication. News dispatched as soon as it is received. Includes an interactive feature allowing readers to participate in discussion. Contact Kennedy Mambwe [email protected]

14. Centre for Alternative Agricultural Media (CAAM) - supports "any pro-farmer issue in all possible ways" in India. Contact Shivaram Pailoor [email protected]

EVENTS

15. The African Malaria Vaccine Testing Network seeks applications from African scientists in the employment of African institutions/Ministries of Health for a 'Workshop on Ethics in Health Research in Africa' in April 2001. Deadline 19 Feb 2001. Contact Prof W. L. Kilama [email protected]

16. E-Conference - 'Knowledge & Information Systems of the Urban Poor in Developing Countries'. To subscribe, click here.

MATERIALS

17. Documents from the Internet 2001 PHMWG Conference are available on the Population & Health Materials Working Group site.

18. Stop TB Communiqué - issued monthly to share information and updates on progress in the global partnership movement to stop TB. Stop TB is a partnership hosted by the WHO.

19. Resource Material Sought - by Adilisha, a project that uses workshops and distance learning to strengthen the campaigning and organisational capacities of human rights organisations in Southern Africa. Seeking materials on: Investigation of human rights violations; Monitoring & reporting (criminal proceedings, elections); Campaigning & advocacy; Organisational management & leadership; Financial management & fundraising; and, Use of the internet for research & advocacy. Contact Anil Naidoo [email protected]

20. Call for Papers - for a special issue of "Communication Theory" entitled "Communication Theory & Entertainment-Education." Deadline 1 Apr 2001. For info, contact Arvind Singhal [email protected]

 

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