HIV Prevention and Health Promotion

UNESCO expands radio programming with ADB support

Over the last decade, UNESCO has developed a unique and innovative methodology for producing culturally acceptable radio programmes in minority languages. Programmes developed according to the UNESCO methodology are in the form of radio dramas. These radio soap operas provide a means to educate target audiences of ethnic minority youth and young women on issues of HIV/AIDS, trafficking and drug abuse.

UNESCO's work on culturally and linguistically appropriate radio dramas for ethnic minorities has been supported by numerous development partners since 2001. In particular, funding received from the ADB has made it possible for UNESCO to expand its radio programming work to ethnic minorities throughout the GMS.

The 2006-2007 ADB-funded project "HIV/AIDS Vulnerability and Risk Reduction among Ethnic Minority Groups through Communication Strategies in the Greater Mekong Subregion" further expanded UNESCO's radio programming work in the GMS to include new ethnic minority languages: Akha in Thailand; Tai Neua in Yunnan, Province of China; Khmu in Lao PDR; and Kreung in Cambodia.

Kreung radio programming

During consultations undertaken by UNESCO in May 2006, high-level government support was received for the project, including from the Minister of Education and the Governor of Ratanakiri Province. Established NGOs also welcomed the project and offered support and cooperation. Partnership was established with the Ratanakiri Provincial Department of Information, Education and Culture.

The project piloted the production of radio dramas in low-resource settings where established broadcasting infrastructure is unavailable, and local languages are unwritten. This pilot was developed in Kreung, one of the ethnic minority languages spoken in Ratanakiri Province, Cambodia. The Kreung radio drama was entitled "Destiny of Wild Flower".

It was estimated that after listening to the programme about 80% of the people could give correct answers to the HIV and AIDS questions; 32% understood more about the issues surrounding drugs; 60% said that they now understood more about the laws about domestic violence; 60% could answer questions about trafficking; and 70% could now answer questions about the land law and how to find help.

A particular challenge for the development of the Kreung radio soap operas was that the Ratanakiri Provincial Department of Information, Education and Culture had radio operating staff, but no radio station. It was outside of project parameters to purchase the required equipment but efforts were undertaken to develop other solutions, including securing the use of alternative funding.

It is expected that the new radio station in Rattanakiri will only be operational in 2008. In the meantime, the programme was distributed by physically taking it to the villagers and broadcasting through portable equipment and loudspeakers, and a generator. Because of this distribution method, two versions of the Kreung programme were produced: (1) a two hour version to be used when the Ratanakiri Radio Station is functioning; and (2) a one hour version to be taken to the villages - a two hour programme was too long to play in one sitting.

The one hour version was broadcast through evening shows, mostly in community centers, scheduled after the ethnic communities had returned home form their work in the fields and had dinner. Project staff contacted the local authority in advance and informed them about the planned show and to enlist their support in informuning community members about the show. As of August 2007, the show was broadcast in six villages. It is planned to broadcast the show in another 26 communities, including more hard-to-reach villages, in the near future.

Khmu radio programming

The Lao National Radio (LNR) and the Institute for Cultural Research (ICR), were the primary partners for the HIV/AIDS prevention radio dramas in Lao PDR. Following consultations in March 2006, the partnership with ICR was quickly formalized and the research was initiated for the Khmu radio soap operas. A total of ten episodes were developed in Khmu before being translated in English and Lao.

After the script was reviewed by UNESCO, AIDS experts, and officials in Lao National Radio (the government partner), Lao National Radio commenced full production of the programme in the last quarter of 2007.

Under a separately funded but parallel project, UNESCO is also partnering with Lao National Radio to produce soap operas in the Lao language with funding from the United States Center for Disease Control (CDC). These programmes will target the large numbers of Lao people - mostly young - who migrate, or are trafficked. The programmes will be broadcast by both Lao National Radio and by local Thai radio stations in the Isan region.

Akha radio programming

The Akha Creative Group, the team of Akha who undertook the research and prepared the scripts, submitted the third draft of the scripts was to UNESCO in April 2007. Radio Thailand Chiangmai, the government counterpart and traditional partner to UNESCO, was closely involved with the script writing and revision process. Composition and recording of the accompanying music began in March 2007.

Casting was finalized in July 2007. Recording of the radio programmes took three weeks and was completed in August 2007.

Tai Neua radio programming

For the soap opera produced in Tai Neua, UNESCO is collaborating with the Yunnan People's Radio Station in Kunming and the Dehong Prefecture Leadership Group for Ethnic Minority Language and Literature. UNESCO had previously worked with the Yunnan Radio Station on the Jingpo radio soap operas.

The Dehong Leadership Group was identified as the research partner in Mangshi, Dehong Prefecture. The results of the extensive research undertaken were used to inform the development of appropriate radio programme scripts. The research included an important focus on drug use among Ta Neau youth.

Based on the research, three scripts were developed: one HIV and AIDS; another on drugs; and the third on trafficking and unsafe migration. A pilot was produced and tested in July 2007. Production of all radio programmes was completed in the last quarter of 2007.

For more information on UNESCO Bangkok's radio programming for ethnic minorities and the UNESCO methodology, please click here.

An overview of UNESCO's other radio programming

The first radio drama series: 2001-2002

In the period 2001-2002, UNESCO developed a first radio drama series in the Shan language entitled "Teardrops from a Wild Orchid", produced with funding from UN Inter-Agency Project on Human Trafficking in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (UNIAP). Due to high audience demand, a second series called "The Mountain Flower" was produced in the Shan language in 2003. Both series dealt with the dangers of trafficking in a manner that appealed to teenage girls and young women. The series were produced in close collaboration with Shan women's groups and were broadcast by Radio Thailand Chiang Mai.

First phase of ADB support: 2003-2004

Under the previous 2003-2004 project ADB-funded project "ICT and Preventive Education in the Cross-border Areas of the Greater Mekong Sub-region", HIV/AIDS, drug and trafficking prevention radio dramas were developed in three different languages: Lahu in Thailand; Jingpo in Yunnan, Province of China; and Hmong in Lao PDR. The Jingpo language HIV/AIDS, drug and trafficking prevention radio drama, "Life of Tragedy", took first prize at the Fifth Provincial Literary and Artistic Creation Awards held recently in Kunming, Yunnan, China.

In Thailand, UNESCO and Radio Thailand Chiang Mai worked closely together to produce and broadcast a 30-episode programme in the Lahu language called "Yesterday's Sweet Flower". In Yunnan, Province of China, UNESCO collaborated with the Yunnan People's Broadcasting Station in Kunming, China, to jointly produce and broadcast a soap opera programme in the Jingpo language called "Life of Tragedies". In Lao PDR, UNESCO collaborated with the Lao Research Institute and the Lao National Radio in Vientiane to produce and broadcast two radio soap operas in the Hmong language: "Kindness and Tears" (2004) and "Poisons and Mistakes" (2005).

Building on success in Yunnan, Province of China: 2004-2007

In 2004, UNESCO expanded its radio programming for HIV/AIDS, trafficking and drug prevention among ethnic minorities in the GMS to Lijiang, northwestern Yunnan, Province of China. Funding was provided by the UNDP-SEAHIV Programme / UNAIDS. The radio drama series "The Sigh of the Snow Mountain" in the Naxi language was developed in close collaboration with the Lijiang Old Town's Women Federation and was broadcast by Lijiang People's Broadcasting Station. The programme was completed at the end of 2006 and broadcast in 2007.

In parallel to the 2006-2007 ADB-funded project, UNESCO developed a second radio production in Yunnan, Province of China in the Tai Lue (or Xishuangbanna Dai) language. This parallel production was funded by UNAIDS and developed in partnership with the Xishuangbanna Women's Federation and the Xishuangbanna Prefecture Radio Station. Production was completed in the last quarter of 2007.

HIV Prevention and Health PromotionUNESCO Bangkok

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