Coverage Sitakund, Chittagong Division

Duration 2006

Situation

This project, monitored by the ICT4D unit, is strategically focused to harness the power of the media to give a voice to the voiceless and thus empower them.

Previously, local media such as community radio or multimedia centers did not exist in Bangladesh. ICT as a development tool is limited by barriers such as education and literacy, affordability of access and skills, and the absence of suitable local content.

Subsequently, there were pilot Information, Communication and Technology (ICT) initiatives; however none integrated any form of community media.

Cybercafés, kiosks and telecenters can create some awareness and skills, but they are limited in terms of overcoming barriers and reaching remote rural and marginalized communities. Community multimedia centers which combine access to ICTs with the local penetration of media like audio narrowcasting, community radio, as well as TV broadcasting and cable are proposed the most positive solution.

Initiative

To create a successful and sustainable project, the major components focus on two major areas:

1. Train and Empower the Local Community

It is essential to train the local community in community media skills, because it gives the rural poor a greater voice and diversity in the local media, thereby providing independent governance and long term sustainability. YPSA encourages the community by:

• Expanding local media facilities for training, content production and broadcasting
• Increasing the amount, quality and diversity of local content production and local distribution in Sitakund
• Increasing the flow of information to address developmental needs and human rights
• Selecting rural disadvantaged youths and adolescents for training
• Providing training on radio, video and multimedia digital content production
• Arranging and conducting workshop on development related issues
• Raising awareness, motivating and developing capacities of local communities on participation and CMC management

2. Develop Institutional Capacities among Partners

Focusing on developing the skills and capacities of partner institutions helps to facilitate the creation of a sustainable, independent, and community owned and managed Community Multimedia Center (CMC). This is done by:

• Providing training on interactive Forum theater
• Providing theoretical and practical training on research methodologies (e.g. field notes, interviews, etc.)
• Expanding the CMC facility through infrastructural development and combining an existing telecenter with new audio and video production
• Laying out of cable network for cablecasting
• Developing audio, programs on local news, local music, interviews and other programs
• Developing video programs on local issues of concern
• Developing multimedia contents in multiple formats (e.g. educational tutorials, digital stories, presentations etc.)
• Broadcasting audio, video and other digital contents produced by the CMC through a separate channel acquired from the local cable operator
• Modifying and setting up modified radio sets to be used with cable
• Forming cassette casting network with existing savings and credit groups of YPSA
• Developing institutional frameworks and documents
• Forming a CMC volunteer coordination committee, an advisory committee and a management committee

Outcomes

The projects achievements include a total of 62 volunteers and community people who were trained in basic computing skills. A group of 24 volunteers have been trained on video content production, and another 18 youths have been trained on community radio programming and audio program development. In addition a total of 20 participants have been trained on Digital Storytelling format, with the preparation of 22 digital stories. As an education initiative, six multimedia educational tutorials on adolescents' sexual-reproductive health have been prepared.

Currently, a group of 50 volunteers are working with the Community Multimedia Center . In addition, a core team of 12 volunteers have been trained to manage and operate the CMC. They are also able to train volunteers in community media skills. Cablecasting has been installed in 800 households, allowing people to view their local programs on TV.

Plans to introduce cable to 200 more households are underway, as well as a local education program for children.

Supporting Organization

UNESCO