PRODERITH II, Rural Communication System - Mexico

PRODERITH II was committed to promoting community members as protagonists in their own development, ultimately without assistance and support from outside. Through training workshops for community members, it "created a capacity within rural communities to identify communication networks & needs, and to make use of video materials and sound systems."

Increasing agricultural production and productivity in the tropics, improving the living and working conditions of peasants (including basic arithmetic, purification of drinking water, food and nutrition, children's diseases, the social and political role of women), and conserving natural resources.

Held training sessions with peasants in communities on presentation, use, and production of materials to be used to stimulate and deepen debate within a community about some aspect of their situation or their production systems. When peasants returned home, they became a "Communication Committee" within their community. Expanded the use of media to include not only video recording and playback but also audio and any other appropriate media. Ultimately supported the creation of essential central physical spaces within communities for gathering, viewing and discussing community issues.