The Drum Beat 179 - The Caribbean Region

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On 22 December 2002 we lost a good colleague, Frank Mubiru, who died unexpectedly in hospital while on holiday in Uganda. Frank, 42, joined at the start of the Exchange programme in early 2001 and his enthusiasm and excitement at being involved in this new venture were evident. He brought his experience and training as a journalist (from Uganda and the UK), his skill as an actor (in a Ugandan soap opera), and his campaigning abilities (around HIV/AIDS). He also brought his engaging smile, his way of making people feel welcome, and his kindness. He will be sadly missed at Exchange, and by the many people who have met and worked with him around the world. He will also be missed deeply by his family, and it is to them that we offer our thoughts and sympathy.
- Andrew Chetley, Director, Exchange Programme chetley.a@healthlink.org.uk

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This issue of The Drum Beat focuses on communication for development thinking and action in The Caribbean region.

CARIBBEAN INITIATIVES

1. Movement of Dominican-Haitian Women (MUDHA) - Dominican Republic - The movement, which includes women from Haiti and Dominican Republic who have Haitian ascendance, seeks to influence public policies to promote change in the national legislation to support its commitments; and to support the women involved in the organisation by conducting training and community health plans and programmes aimed at improving their living standards and those of their communities. MUDHA works to address the sugar mill population's problems through campaigns, seminars, conferences, and dialogues that foster consensus and awareness amongst the Dominican population, civilian society organisations, government agencies, and the international community.
Contact Solange Pierre mudha@hotmail.com

2. SERVOL - Trinidad & Tobago - a service organisation engaged in community-based efforts to strengthen families by providing support and education for parents, children, and adolescents. The scope of SERVOL's projects involves initiating employment skills, enterprise development, and individual and community empowerment initiatives in disadvantaged urban and rural communities. SERVOL has set up early childhood programmes, adolescent health and vocational training, and parenting courses and parent outreach programmes. Their strategy includes involving the community and parents in the establishment and conduct of all projects and initiatives.
Contact Sister Ruth Montrichard ruth@wow.net

3. Fathers Incorporated - Jamaica - a community-based parenting group established by Jamaican men in 1991 to address negative stereotypes of Jamaican fathers. Workshops, seminars, and conferences are offered that address various aspects of fatherhood. These sessions are designed to provide information about parenting skills, as well as to encourage men to play a more active role in the lives of their children.
Contact Prof. Barry Chevannes bchvnnes@uwimona.edu.jm

4. Haiti Support Group - UK & Haiti - a solidarity group based in the United Kingdom that has focused on developing contacts with grassroots and popular organisations in Haiti to provide them support. Every 2 months, the Haiti Support Group publishes a 4-page newsletter "Haiti Briefing" containing news, analysis, reviews, and photos. The group also organises public meetings and carries out campaigns to advocate for actions in favor of Haitian rights.

5. The Truth about AIDS. Pass It on... - Saint Lucia
Messages about HIV/AIDS and the discrimination associated with it were disseminated by the Red Cross and the Ministry of Health. At its annual rally held on May 5, 2002, the president encouraged those attending to continue to be ambassadors for the Red Cross.
Contact secretariat@ifrc.org

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NEW Commentary

Is community radio a viable option for Afghanistan?
Bruce Girard from comunica and Jo van der Spek from Radio Reed Flute discuss findings from a recent mission they conducted with sponsorship from the Communication Assistance Fund.

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6. ROOTS FM - Jamaica - A community radio station established in 1998 and operated by Mustard Seed Communities to work with the people of depressed inner city communities to alleviate poverty and support their spiritual, social and economic development.
Contact kingston@unesco.org

7. Groupe Médialternatif - Haiti - an association made up of mass communication professionals and members from related disciplines, all of whom are troubled by the problem of inadequate access to information. Its objective is to promote the creation and exchange of alternative information and communication spaces in a way that expresses respect for human rights and free expression. The group produces, disseminates, and publishes information, as well as media, educational, cultural, and public interest materials.
Contact Gotson Pierre gm@medialternatif.org

8. Maritza & Mario - Dominican Republic - 2 comic books to promote condom use among female commercial sex workers and their customers, working men in the Dominican Republic. In "Los triunfos de Maritza" (The triumphs of Maritza), Maritza, a savvy sex worker, used verbal arguments and coquetry - maneuvers derived from the focus group research - to counter her customers' refusals to use condoms, succeeding with 4 out of 5 men in the story. In the Mario comic book developed for working men who may be customers of commercial sex workers, Mario's friend challenges him to put a condom on a beer bottle correctly, then shows him the correct steps.

9. The Media Assistance and Civic Education Programme - Haiti - a 12-part radio series, as well as efforts to support and train community radio personnel and journalists, to strengthen Haitian media and to provide information to the Haitian public on civic education themes.
Contact Terry Thielen terryt@caii-haiti.com

10. MISTICA: Methodology and Social Impact of Information and Communications Technologies (ICT) in Latin America and the Caribbean - Dominican Republic - a virtual community (think tank) that works collaboratively to study and improve the the Internet’s social impact. The main objective is to structure and support a network of researchers and institutions using ICT for cooperative research, development, and community work in Latin American and the Caribbean.
Contact Daniel Pimienta pimienta@funredes.org

RESOURCES & EVENTS

11. UNAIDS HIV/AIDS Communications Framework
Two key areas are specific to the Latin American/Caribbean region:

1. Advocacy
2. Involving HIV-Positive Persons in Communication Programmes

12. The Internet...Why and What For? - by Ricardo Gomez and Juliana Martinez
"Internet projects in Latin America and the Caribbean need to go beyond connectivity and technology to make meaningful contributions to development..."

13. Communicating Hurricane Preparedness for Agriculture, Forestry & Fisheries in the Caribbean - by Maria Protz
"Hurricanes are a natural disaster that have become a fact of life in many parts of the world, including the Caribbean. Although the danger that hurricanes pose to human life is the most serious concern, they also threaten the livelihoods of people who rely on agriculture, fishing and forest resources for their livelihoods... Communicating these immediate and long-term measures effectively involves not only the transfer of information, but also the adoption of best practices. Adoption of preparedness and impact mitigation techniques requires culturally relevant and effective communication channels as well as..."

14. Annual PAHO Caribbean Awards for Excellence in Health Journalism - Deadline: July 8 2003 - Submissions must have been published or broadcast in an English-speaking Caribbean country or Suriname, between July 2002 to May 2003.

15. World Summit on the Information Society Latin America and Caribbean Regional Conference - Jan 29-31 2003 - Dominican Republic - in preparation for the 1st phase of the World Summit that will take place in December 2003. The summit will address the broad range of themes concerning the Information Society and adopt a Declaration of Principles and Action Plan, addressing the whole range of issues related to the Information Society.

16. Updated Country Profiles - HIV - USAID - [includes link to 'Caribbean Region]

17. AIDS and Accusation: Haiti and the Geography of Blame - by Paul Farmer

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If you are using communication strategies to address social and economic issues in The Caribbean please contact us. Or please send us information on initiatives, strategies, materials, awards, events, etc. from your region. We look forward to featuring your work.
Contact Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

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AND
...previously featured Caribbean Initiatives...

Radio Sel - Haiti

Television Serrana - Cuba

Teen Talk - Dominica

Don't Call Me Street Kid! Campaign - Latin America and the Caribbean

Radio Toco - Trinidad & Tobago

Communicating Health in the Caribbean: A Manual for Action

Project Gemini - Cuba

Call to Action Project of Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation [includes Dominican Republic]

Youth Records Old Wisdom - Jamaica

Circulos de Abuelos (Grandparent's Circles) - Cuba

Right to Know Initiative (RTK)[includes Jamaica and Haiti]

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The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.

Please send material for The Drum Beat to the Editor - Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

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