Bolivia - Entre Luces y Sombras

PCI-Media Impact is producing, together with Family Care International and Radio Tropico, the radio drama “Entre Luces y Sombras” (Between Lights and Shadows), which is the main feature of the sixty minute live talk show: “Tejiendo Redes en Salud Sexual y Reproductiva” (Weaving Networks in Sexual and Reproductive Health). The show is focused on a youth audience in the northern region of Bolivia, in the town of Beni. The show was broadcast from July - December 2007.

The goal of the project is to use entertainment – education (EE) radio to assist in preventing adolescent pregnancies, domestic violence, and sexually transmitted infections including HIV/AIDS.

Overview of Reproductive Health and Rights in Bolivia:

• Bolivia indigenous people, around 60%, face real and perceived barriers in access to health services.
• Most HIV/AIDS prevention and treatment efforts are centered in urban areas.
• On average, women each have about 5.3 births.
• Only 15% of youth in the area feel empowered to decide for themselves when their sexual lives should begin.
• Only 36% of women in the Beni region use modern methods of family planning.
• Literacy rates are low, 75% in the rural areas. Radio is the main information source.

Sources: Health and Sport Ministry of Bolivia, Save the Children and Family Health

The Broadcast

Broadcast - Radio Trópico, from July 2007 – December 2007.

- Radio Drama – 24 episodes, 7 minutes each
- Radio talk show – 24 episodes, 60 minutes weekly

Target and Coverage - Indigenous adolescents and youth, ages 12-22, in San Andres, San Pedro, Nueva Betania and Loma Suárez in the Beni state.

Radio Drama Plot - The drama is about Ana, who finds herself pregnant and in a harmful relationship, scared and confused. Will she overcome adversity and find a way forward?

Radio Drama Main Characters
Ana: 15 years old, is the oldest sister from 5 siblings, she is very responsible at home and at school. Most of the time she is reserved with her personal live.

Maria: 32 years old, Ana’s mother. She supports her daughter to pursue her goals and not to repeat the same mistakes she did in the past.

Petrona: Ana’s grandmother. She believes in natural medicine and loves to share her knowledge with Ana. People in the community listen to her.

Pedro: The most attractive guy in the school and Ana’s boyfriend. Like his father, he suffers from an alcohol problem.

Our Methodology and Training

For this project, PCI-Media Impact is training local health providers, like Family Care International and Radio Trópico, a local broadcaster in Beni, Bolivia to use our EE methodology to promote their services.

The training of our local partners is guided by our international consultants. The main areas of support are:

• Education – Entertainment methodology (radio production, script, acting)
• Program monitoring and evaluation (quantitative and qualitative impact)
• Sexual and reproductive health and rights