Bolivia -Del Sur para el Sur … Historias de Vida de Gente como Tu

PCI-Media Impact, together with ADRA and Radio Camargo, in 2007 produced the radio drama “Del Sur para el Sur” (The South of the South) , which is the main feature of the ninety minute live talk show: “Juntos es Mejor” (Together is Better). The show is broadcast to farm families in the southern region of Bolivia.

The goal of the program is to use an entertainment – education (EE) methodology that harnesses the power of radio, to empower people to take advantage of their rural resources to overcome poverty and malnourishment, and educating them on how to take care of the environment.

Overview of Food Security and Environment in Bolivia

• In 2005, 63% of Bolivia’s 8.8 million population lived below the poverty line.
• The issue of nutritional insecurity in Bolivia is caused by difficult access to food, rather than by the actual lack of it.
• Malnutrition in Bolivia generates issues such as infant and maternal mortality, mental retardation, and physical limitations, among others.
• Deforestation and poor agricultural practices harm the environment and add to the vicious cycle of poverty.

Sources: World Bank and American Society for Nutrition

The Broadcast

Broadcast - Radio Camargo. The state of Sucre has an estimated population of 8,328,700, the program reaches 80% of it. The broadcast period is from July 2007- December 2007.

• Radio Drama – 24 episodes, 15 minutes each
• Radio Talk Show – 24 episodes, 90 minutes weekly

Target and Coverage - Men and women over 15, farmers’ families from Chusquisaca, Tarija and Sucre in the southern region of Bolivia.

Radio Drama Plot
A very strong rain falls in Huancarani, floods the town and causes terrible damage. Some believe that the rain was caused by the wrath of God at the sinners of the town. Others remember the floods occurred five years before and many people were homeless. The community gets together to discuss what to do.

The program deals with issues such as forest fires, floods, child malnourishment, drinking water treatment, and peach crops, among others. The story includes women’s empowerment through the story of young women in the community who are eager to learn and to become leaders.

Radio Drama Main Characters
Don Manuel: 40, is a strong community leader. His dream is to have a large variety of peach groves.

“El Chino”: 36, he is selfish, has a bad temper and only looks after his welfare. At home, he faces many problems because of his alcoholism, and he likes to gossip and to create conflict.

Maria: 38, loves her work and is a very easy going person, making jokes about being taller than her husband. She fights to promote women’s participation in the community.

Our Methodology and Training

For this project, PCI-Media Impact is training organizations, such as ADRA (Adventist Agency for Resource Assistance and Development) and Radio Camargo, a local broadcaster, in the southern region of Bolivia to use our EE methodology to improve food security measures and environmental conditions.

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)