This summer Cultural Survival's partners in the community radio network in Guatemala have embarked on a new initiative of local exchanges among radio stations. This past weekend, on July 21-22, two pairs of radio stations visited each other to get to know their work models.

Stations were paired up for exchanges based on shared languages, regional proximity, and a good match of skills and weaknesses.  One pair of stations included Radio Doble Via, of San Mateo Quetzaltenango, with Stereo La X Musical, of Cajola Quetzaltenango.

Doble Via, for example, has successfully recruited over 30 youth volunteers to participate in the station, but lacks the wisdom and experience of the elder generation. La X Musical is a station run by a group of Mayan priests, including one member who is 86 years old, but struggles with the new technology that the younger generation at Doble Via can grasp.

On the second day of the exchange,members from the two radio stations visited local sacred sites important to the community.

For years now, volunteers from these stations have gotten to know each other through field investigation at events and participation in training workshops held at a central location, but haven’t had the opportunity to visit each other in their home stations.  These pairings give the volunteers from different stations a chance to get new ideas about what works and what doesn’t.

To learn more about Cultural Survival's Community Radio Program go here.