|
Corporate Social Responsibility
News
3.06.2007 - 11:00pm ET
|
CSR News from:
|
|
|
News Category:
|
|
PCI Youth Radio Shows Change Lives in Central America
Popular Dramas Teach Youth about HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health
(CSRwire) March 7, 2007 – PCI, a global not-for-profit producer of TV and radio
shows in over 25 countries, celebrates the impressive first-year results
of two of its youth radio programs: "Que Ondas con tu Vida" (What’s
Up with Your Life?) and "La Ruleta: Donde las Emociones se Funden"
(The Roulette – Where Emotions Melt) produced and broadcast in
Honduras and Guatemala, respectively.
Co-produced through PCI’s innovative "My Community" program, both dramas
tackle critical public health issues that are often seen as taboo –
issues such as emergency contraception, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted
infections, and reproductive health rights. Each mini-drama was written,
acted, and produced by local talent, and broadcast within a weekly live
show along with music, interviews, and contests.
In Honduras, PCI co-produces the radio drama "Que Ondas con tu Vida," with
Ashonplafa, which is the largest sexual and reproductive health service
provider in Honduras and an International Planned Parenthood Federation
(IPPF) affiliate. Among other results, pre and post-test surveys conducted
with over 500 adolescents revealed:
91% of listeners in the post-test demonstrated knowledge of sexual
violence among youth, compared to 60% of respondents in the baseline
survey
Knowledge of emergency contraception was higher among listeners to
the radio program (25.5%) than non-listeners (17.4%)
64% of listeners to the radio drama defined family planning as a
right, opposed to 59% of non-listeners
"IPPF’s partnership with PCI has been extremely valuable to the
institution and the affiliate organizations we work with in Latin
America," said River Finlay, IPPF’s Youth/HIV Program Coordinator for
the Western Hemisphere Region. "As reproductive health program and service
providers, it’s critical that these organizations improve their capacity
to promote their services, develop effective health messages, and transmit
them through creative ways tailored to specific target audiences."
In Peten, Guatemala, the NGO Asociacion Tan Ux’il registered an increase
in young clients and demand for contraceptive products as a result of "La
Ruleta," the radio drama they co-produced with PCI. Tan Ux’il promotes a
wide range of family planning products available at their own pharmacy and
has even launched a broad-based social marketing campaign for youth with
posters, fliers and t-shirts. Even the NGO’s "Emergency Combo Packs" –
which include two condoms and a course of emergency contraception pills –
carry the radio drama’s name and logo. Tan Ux’il’s peer educators
report that approximately 60% of new clients gained during the broadcast
period referenced the radio drama as a main source of their motivation for
seeking contraception. In addition:
During the first three months of "La Ruleta’s" broadcast, 600 new
clients visited Tan Ux’il’s pharmacy
During the first three months of broadcast, Tan Ux'il's pharmacy and
peer educators recorded a 70% increase of clients requesting contraceptive
pills and condoms for a three month total of 1,409 clients
During "La Ruleta's" first broadcast season, Tan Ux'il reported an
increase of 1,673 new clients.
"We saw great potential in both programs and we were excited to provide
support at the earliest stages," said PCI Executive Director, Michael
Castlen. "However, we were surprised to see the impact these shows were
having so soon after broadcast. It confirms our belief that PCI’s model
is working, that it’s effective, and that our life-saving messages are
reaching the people most in need of them."
About PCI
PCI is at the forefront of innovative social change communications
programming.
Working with local partners worldwide, we produce carefully researched and
culturally sensitive radio and television shows that combine the power of
storytelling with the reach of broadcast media. Our programs spark
individual and community action on health, environmental and human rights
issues. PCI is also a leading technical assistance provider to
governments, NGOs and foundations. Since our founding in 1985, we have
worked with local partners around the world to produce more than 45 radio
and television programs in 25 countries. From Mexico to India and to Kenya
to China, PCI has been: "Telling Stories, Saving Lives." For more
information, please visit PCI’s website at www.population.org
About "My Community"
PCI's "My Community" Program fosters social and behavior change
communications programs throughout Latin America through an intensive
program of training, seed grants, and technical assistance. For more
information about "My Community" - Latin America, please click
here.
|
|