Guatemala Radio Project in the news: Coffee & Cocoa International write about the project. Read it here.

Building Capacity: In February 2008, 120 volunteers from 60 stations participated in three regional workshops to identify best practices in political engagement, content production, financial management and sustainability, community involvement and technical aspects of production and broadcasting. This process is part of an effort to have stations work at the regional level, reducing costs and increasing participation. 

Monitoring and Evaluating Results: In January 2008, survey teams made up of international volunteers, community radio operators and communication students from Guatemalan universities visited 140 radio stations, which are on the air.

Teams collected data on volunteers, equipment, content production, resources, finances and community involvement.  From the preliminary analysis we concluded that there are 1322 volunteers working at the stations!

Green Guatemala: The Alliance for International Reforestation (AIRES) which plants trees, establishes tree nurseries, provides environmental education, digs wells, and builds fuel-efficient brick ovens, will fund environmental radio content which is dated to begin mid April. AIRES has agreed to underwrite four, 15 minute radio programs to be broadcast throughout Guatemala and translated into the four most commonly spoken languages. These programs (produced and distributed by the CGCC) will serve to educate the public about sustainable farming practices.

New Content Production Team: Guatemala Radio Project welcomes an expanded content production team!

To improve radio programming throughout the GRP’s network, we decentralized content production by hiring four talented community radio volunteers to form a production team to develop new content in the four most widely spoken Maya Languages. Willy Velasquez, Hornan Aguilar, Heyda Mejía, Cesar Gomez, and Elmer Macu have begun work on addition episodes of “Salud y Vida”, “Aura Marina”, and “Coffee Talk”. The team members have a combined 40 years of experience in content production and working at radio stations.

Going WiFi: Radio Qman Txun in Todos Santos Cuchumatan uses Meraki wireless antennas to receive internet access at the radio station.

Additional stations have been identified as potential “hub stations” to acquire Merakis to maximize efficiency and decrease distribution costs. These antennas help radio stations in our network to receive and share content without having to burn everything onto a CD and hand-carry it to each station (as they do now). $100 will cover the cost of each antenna. If you can help, please donate.

Mil Gracias: The New England Biolabs Foundation approved a $10,000 grant to help the Guatemalan Radio Project reach its goals.

Thirty-six radio station volunteers have learned how to write and produce radio dramas about health and environmental protection and twenty-four more volunteers will be trained this spring thanks to the support of the New England Biolabs Foundation.

Radio Novela Training: Cultural Survival Guatemala Radio Project Content Director Jorge Molina is training 60 volunteers in monthly workshops in four locations around Guatemala. Over the course of nine months (July 2007-March 2008) the workshop participants will write, act, record, and produce a total of eight episodes of radio dramas focused on health and the environment. All eight of the episodes will be aired on 168 community radio stations reaching an audience of approximately 3 million listeners.

Monitoring and Evaluating Results: A pilot survey of 11 stations was performed in August 2007. Survey teams consisting of one volunteer from a community radio station, one Guatemalan communications student/professional, and one international observer, collected information about each station's broadcast schedule, income, expenses, skill level of volunteers, and equipment. We are planning a complete survey of all 168 stations in January 2008.

A Road Less Traveled: Looking for a hands-on way to help the Guatemala Radio Project? Have you already donated? See where your money is going - be a driver!

Bazaar Fiesta: If you attended our Bazaar in Amherst, MA on June 2-3, your attention might have been caught by the marimba music, live translated brodcasts from Guatemala, or children making colorful kites.

Going WIFI: Behind-the-scenes, keeping up with new radio technology is a major part of the project.

Got Underwriters?: Community radio stations in Guatemala are interested in developing programs about the environment, heatlh issues, women's rights, and much more.

Mil Gracias: The New England Biolabs Foundation approved a $10,000 grant to help the Guatemalan Radio Project reach its goals.