Dear blog,
we are sorry that we can't update you regularly because of unknown reasons.
Do you belong to Madam D or Mr. T or Ms N or Mr. E or Mr. P or Ms Em?
Then, forgive us?
we shall do it soon.
Nice time,
Silco
September 01, 2009
June 23, 2009
July 21, 2008
June 12, 2008
June 05, 2008
THE VISIT OF RIC-NET TO INFORMATION CENTRES IN TANZANIA
Dear colleagues,
I send you an update on information centers we have visited so far as we wait for the bigger report.
Karagwe information centre
Karagwe is located in the North western part of Tanzania it borders Uganda in the south- west. The area is isolated from major Tanzanian cities including Dar-er-Salama and Mwanza, thus been attracted and assimilated to cultural practices and values of Ugandan nearby towns like Kyotera, Kalisizo and Masaka. The area communication network including radio and television are more connected to Uganda than Tanzania. In his own speech the manager of Karagwe information centers noted that; “few years back you could ask a village person from Karagwe the president of Tanzania and they would say Museveni because they only hear about Museveni from Ugandan televisions and radios”. Mr. Joseph Sekiku
Karagwe located on a plateau area is occupied by mainly subsistent peasant farmers, less educated and with strong cultural ties- often indicative of individuals less accustomed to change. Before the introduction of the information centre the manger noted that people were very ignorant and lacked information concerning disease control, agricultural market prices, and education. The fundamental point to note however is; there was much interest for people to learn. He thought through ways of sharing information. He started the aspect of notice boards, where he could individually source for information post it on notice boards located in public places and update them very after a period of time. He in the late 1990s started a local magazine which provided information for the locals on national issues. This he did through his personal salary earnings.
From scratch he has established a bigger information centre Family Alliance for Development through Cooperation (FADECO) which offers trainings in improved agricultural practices, (with demonstration gardens, food processors and preservers) computer trainings, resource room to access books and newspapers, community radio, internet, world space radio, and wood lots as samples for preserving the environment.
The community radio
With the advancement of ICT, Joseph Sekiku The manager Family Alliance for Development through Cooperation (FADECO) developed an idea of starting a community radio with 12 few committed individuals. His major interest was to offer information to a wider community. He noted that notice boards could only be accessed by few people. He had accumulated some capital from his previous work with Accord UK which together with member contribution gave him a go ahead. His background in agriculture made him understand the nature of information that would benefit the local community. He first concentrated on market information but also giving room to important and urgent information that would benefit the community. He linked farmers to international markets, trained them in food processing and preservation methods and to a big extent brought the farmers on the radio to air out their needs. The radio has over time gained community support and ownership because farmers are involved in the general programming and online advocacy for their entitlements. Ownership to him is about what others can offer; farmers have acted as a mouth piece for the radio, and the radio a platform to air out their views. The radio with 50wats transmitter covers a range 120miles. It has a direct collaboration with the national radio of Tanzania, BBC, DW, and CTA which produces radio scripts. The centre through the VSAT offers LAN to schools and business cooperation in the area.
Support
To a bigger extent the center is supported by the manager being committed and friends. Donors have very little or no interest in this part of the country and have often let down his proposals. He gave a testimony that; his last proposal was so convincing and a donor instead of funding him copied the idea and implemented it in the southern part of the country.
Advice
In his advice the manager emphasized the need to broadcast recorded programs. He noted that is very difficult to fight politics on the radio especially when broadcasting live on the air. Interested individuals should be helped to record their programs and edited by the information officer before they can be broadcasted.
The radio should identify first learners and train them in broadcasting. He noted that current journalists are not development oriented. The focus of the community radio should be on eradicating poverty and therefore should focus on information that can help the poor to improve. This requires development journalists not news reporters and it is on commercial radios.
Lessons
Donor support kills room for greater innovations as the focus is to achieve the outlined donor expectations.
Having clear goals and targets make us more focused, not to be derailed in small matters. His goal was to provide information to the community of Karagwe and indeed there is enormous improvement compared to the past.
Community ownership should be redefined to cater for commitment and what they can offer. This will stimulate new innovations and ownership of the centers. Focus should not be on the ideology only but the value communities attach to information and what they can contribute to get this information.
Uganda has more privileges for donor support compared to some areas like Karagwe; we need to utilize this chance when it is still available, so that in future we can move on in their absence.
Next step
Tomorrow we will visit another information centre in Sengerema few kilometers from Mwanza a major city.
May 12, 2008
BIC LAUNCHES KYONDO INFORMATION POINT
Bwera Information Centre (BIC), in a bide to have information sourcing and dissemination decentralized, started on a move of initiating Information Points at Parish level. On 5th May 2008, Kyondo Information Point was launched and several equipment to help them in disseminating information were provided to the Information Point. These included bicycles, television set, DVD player and computer. Other Information Points that benefited include; Kayanzi, Munkunyu, Bikunyu et cetera.
Information was disseminated using different methods such as drama, music, dance, poetry, speeches and exhibitions. This launch was all inclusive and what was interesting about it is that even the young children were given the chance to express themselves.
Gender was mainstreamed and thanks to BIC for empowering the women and allowing them to express themselves freely at the launch.
May 02, 2008
Peoples' Voice through Rural Community Radios
Project Proposal: Rural Community Radio Stations
Total Project cost: $ 121,500
UDMet contribution: $
48,900
Partners contribution: $ 72,600 (specifically RIC-NET expected contribution = $48,400)
Background Uganda
As
radios are the main communication media that farmers use to listen and access
to development information, it is therefore important that Community Radio
Stations are established in the three Rural Communities of Kyaka, Bwera and
Karilo which have registered increased failures of crops due to changes in
climate . However the use of any developmental information by farmers heavily
depends on the language used in producing and airing the information as well as
the level of interaction between the farmers and information producers. It is
therefore justified to establish a rural community radio that caters, for local
ownership, use of local language and allows closer community participation with
information producers.
The
main goal of establishing this community radio station is to increase access of
vital development information to rural poor farmers which they will use to
reduce their vulnerability to disasters of any nature. This will later
translate into improved household food security, environmental protection, and
increase women participation in community governance for rural development.
Objectives
1)
Establish three Rural Community Radio Stations:
A community radio will be established in each of the
following rural communities.
a) Kyaka in Kyenjojo District,
b) Bwera in Kasese District and
c) Bumanya in Karilo District.
2)
Establish three Rural Radio Management Teams for the Rural Community Radio
Stations.
3)
Train three Teams of Local Voluntary Radio Presenters for the Rural Community
Radio Stations.
Uganda
The
Radio Management Teams will be attached to existing established Community
Radios Station for training how to manage their own radio stations.
The
Local Radio Presenters will be attached to existing community radio stations
for training in producing and presenting user needed radio programs.
The
Community Farmers will give feedback to Radio management Team, on development
information they need to hear on the programs.
RICNET
and BusogaYaiffe will mobilize funds to construct Mast for Antennae, acquire
Office building and payment of operational costs.
see detailed on the link.
May 01, 2008
Not always hard information but some times prayer.
Our interesting security officer Mr. prutazio who gives information about RIC-NET to the visitors that come to our office in fort portal. in addition he offers Prayers and a Blessings for ones journey. It a holy spirit filled officer.
Launching Sub-County "rural information Centres"
Bwera Information Centre (BIC)has launched 11 rural information centres at sub-county levels and Village information Points at village/ parish levels.
This has completed the long awaited strategy of sharing(sourcing and disseminating) information up to the grassroots levels and encourage the use of ICT for rural development.
The function attended by the District Woman member of Parliament,was also graced by the District Local Government Chairperson and numerous community progressive farmers.
Bwera information Centre with the support from HIVOS gave out Video sets, Generators, Telephone sets, Public noticed boards, some computers, and information packages in form of Videos. DVDs, News letter and Stickers.
RIC-NET also used the occasion to show case the success of BIC to other county information centres staff and board members from the five districts of the Rwenzori Region.
