Nicaragua - Montaña de Pasiones

PCI-Media Impact worked with Radio Ecologica to produce a weekly radio drama “Montaña de Pasiones” (Mountains of Passion) , which is the main feature of the one-hour live talk show “Esta Es Mi Gente (This Is My People). The radio talk show includes the following sections:

• Introduction to the day’s topic
• Radio drama
• Open comments about the radio drama and the radio talk show
• Technical advise on the day’s topic

The of the program was to use an entertainment – education (EE) methodology to develop sustainable agriculture, reduce wood extraction and preserve native flora and fauna in the mountain.

Overview of Environmental Issues in Nicaragua

• Some of the most devastated forests, near urban areas, continue to be exploited at a startling rate due to the demand for firewood; wood provides 90 percent of household and 25 percent of industrial fuel.
• Only 32 percent of rural population has access to clean water.
• Nicaragua is home to 16 species threatened by extinction.
• The country protects 7.4 percent (1997) of its land in parks and other reserves.

Source: Revista Envio

The Broadcast

Broadcast - Radio Ecologica, 95.3 FM from December 2006 – October 2007

• Radio drama - 25 episodes, 7 minutes each
• Radio talk show – 25 episodes, one hour weekly

Target and Coverage - 1,500 rural families in Somoto, San Lucas and Las Sabana in Madriz State, in northern Nicaragua.

Radio Drama Plot - The rural community around the mountain organizes itself to stop a wealthy landowner who leads heinous environmental activities. The community resists to this and other negative characters and they find effective ways to work together.

Radio Drama Characters
Don Guillermo: a wealthy landowner who handles his vast piece of land in the mountain with little concern for the environment.

Willy: Don Guillermo’s son, graduated from a university in Managua City, participates in his father’s environmental-damaging activities, and also takes sexual advantage of girls in the region.

Amanda: 18 years old, she is a role model of moral integrity and positive action. She is a leader in her community and sets valuable examples when she refuses to accept Willy’s indecent proposals and bribes.

Our Methodology and Training

For this project, PCI-Media Impact is training community based organizations and local radio broadcast such as Radio Ecológica to use our EE methodology to generate dialogue and action toward sustainable agriculture and environmental conservation.

Our international consultants train these local partners focusing on:

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