Ecuador - Domingo 7

The weekly radio drama “Domingo 7” (Knocked up) is the core discussion topic in the magazine live show: “De pies a cabeza” (From feet to head), an hour show produced by a group of 20 energetic adolescents.

Our partner “Colectivo Pro Derechos Humanos” (PRODH) is based in Quito, Ecuador, and is a grassroots NGO focused on media and communications, addressing issues related with people’s dignity, equity and justice. PCI-Media Impact provides the organization with training, funding and technical assistance to allowing them to improve the lives of the people in their communities. In 2007, together we developed a radio drama to educate youth in sexual and reproductive health rights in Manabi, Ecuador.

Social and Economic Facts: Manabí, Ecuador

Manabí is located along Ecuador's central Pacific Coast. The region is known for its beautiful beaches, quaint fishing villages, commercial centers such as Manta, which is the country’s second largest port, and the Machalilla National Park, with its rich vegetation and varied species of fauna. The region also produces many handicrafts and is known worldwide for its pottery and panama hats.

This region has a population of 1.2 million people. However, more than 74.8% of the population lives under poverty, with more than 47.4% living in extreme poverty.

Adolescents in the region report having had sex at an early age. 5% report having had a sexual experience before the age of 12, 34% report a first sexual encoutner at age 12-14 and 24% from 15-17 years old.

The adolescent pregnancy rate has increased from 9.8% in 1998 to 18% in 2006. It is reported that for every five births, one comes from an adolescent mother.

Source: Ecuador Ministry of Tourism and SIISE - 2001

Broadcast Period: May 2007 – August 2007
Broadcast Reach: Radio Alfaro, 96.1 FM with coverage of 15 km in the town of Jipijapa, Ecuador which have a population of over 120,000 people. Currently, the program is on two radio stations, which allow a wider coverage.
Target Audience: Adolescents ages 10 -19, in urban settlement communities. The show has over 10,000 listeners.

The Magazine Show:

The radio magazine is produced with the participation of “Grupo Juvenil Talofito”, a Non-for-profit, youth NGO, focused on promoting sexual and reproductive health among youth in Ecuador. The magazine portion of the show has been on the air since 2005.

In 2007, a serial drama was added to the existing show as an aid in the discussion portion of the program. The radio magazine features interviews, reports, music, contests, and the radio drama, using four sections:
• Introduction to the program and the contest
• The radio drama “Domingo 7”
• Expert interview with audience participation
• Youth information and sign off

The Serial Drama:

Number of Episodes: 16 episodes, 10 minutes each, included within the magazine show which has been running since 2005.
Main Characters Profile:
Maria: 15, distracted, doubtful, pretty, low income class.
Pepe: 18, orphan without mother, middle income class, friendly.
Gloria: 16, impulsive, despot, middle income class.
Mauricio: 19, works in a car shop, romantic, good friend.
“La Fumosa”: 38, sex worker, has a baby girl.
Serial Drama Plot: Maria is pressured into a world of drugs, gangs, and unprotected sex. She is surrounded by violence as a result of an unexpected pregnancy; however, she resolves to make changes in her life. Despite poverty and loneliness, she develops self-esteem and takes charge of her sexual health.

Reported Program Impact:

Capacity Building and Participation:We ensure the program sustainability by increasing broadcasting skills sets within the community. In addition, participants identify and communicate their own needs, which create credibility among listeners.

Cost – Effectiveness: To ensure program sustainability the project requires cost-sharing. PCI - Media Impact provides 21% of the project cost and our partners provide the remaining 79%, often through in-kind, contributions, volunteers and sponsorship.

Additional information on the program's impact in the local community will be available after September 2007. Quantitative and qualitative information will be available with the behavior change results achieved by the program “Domingo 7”.

About the program partners:

Since 1993 “Colectivo Pro Derechos Humanos” promotes the understanding of Human Rights and supports citizens to take actions by warning against human rights violations in Ecuador and in the world. In addition, it facilitates communication among organizations and public spaces to promote Human Rights information. Some of their main actions are:

• Production and broadcast of a radio magazine in Quito, Ecuador addressing Human Rights issues.
• Sponsors sexual education events, such as: “Communication to prevent sexual abuse” in Quito, sponsored by Oficina Católica Internacional para la Infancia (BICE)
• "Pro Derecho Juvenil” is a subgroup created in 2003 to empower youth to believe on their human rights in order to create a better society.
• Audiovisual and printed material productions about: health, children, women and indigenous people rights.

“Pro Derecho Juvenil” is an adolescent group, created in 2003, that addresses issues such as:

• Integral health: HIV/AIDS prevention, teen pregnancy, unsafe abortion and prostitution
• Promotion of law about violence against women and family
• Environmental issues
• Political participation
• Access to public education
• Media, democracy and freedom of speech

Other partners in the project included:
Radio Alfaro, 96.1 FM and Grupo Juvenil Talofito