Creating New Content

Cultural Survival’s Guatemalan radio production staff created a total of 286 radio programs during the 2009, encompassing a wide range of topics, including Indigenous rights, environmental protection, sustainable agriculture, fair trade, health, and political participation. Programs were recorded in Spanish, Mam, Kaqchikel, K’iche, Achi, Poqomam, and Tz’utujil. All of these programs were made in cooperation with local doctors, nurses, human rights workers, environmentalists, farmers, and other experts. The production, recording, and editing of the radio programs is all done at local stations. All programs are made available via CD, email attachment, or on the Cultural Survival website to 175 radio stations. Each radio station is independently owned and operated by the local community and decides which programs they will broadcast.

Soap Operas: This year, 60 volunteer staff members from 6 community radio stations will participate in a series of workshops where they will produce episodes of a social issues radionovela titled “Aura Marina,” which revolves around the adventures of a feisty young village girl. Made possible with funding from the New England Biolabs Foundation, this year's episodes will focus on environmental themes and will be recorded in Spanish and three Indigenous languages.

Ninty-one episodes of “Salud y Vida,” a health program, have been heard by more than one million listeners in 168 villages in six languages thanks to the Society of San Martin de Porres.

One hundred and thirty-five episodes of “Coffee Talk,” about how farmers can improve and receive a better price for their coffee crop, have been produced and distributed thanks to Dean’s Beans Organic Fair Trade Coffee and Equal Exchange.

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