Rising Voices Microgrants 2013 » Cameroon: Disseminating Pro-Poor Information

The project seeks to enhance community group leaders’ capacity in media tools to enable them identify, package and deliver pro-poor information in their communities. These highly motivated “women and youth” who bridge the gap in rural and community information will be taught elements like news gathering, news writing, techniques in broadcasting, production of community programmes, marketing programmes, networking, etc.

Topical focus:

Poverty ^[1]

Country:

Cameroon ^[2]

What locality or neighborhood will your project focus on?

Kumba

Describe the specific community with whom you will be working.

We are targeting literate social group leaders (women and Youth) based in local communities who have a command of community members that can effect change and effectively disseminate information over community radio stations and other selected medium. They are exceptionally affected by poverty and other related social problems. We strongly affirm that women and youth are strong agent that can impact change in communities.

What kinds of news, stories and other content will be created?

We envisage creating news programmes, and articles on health; agricultural especially on market prices, processing and marketing; violence against women, adolescence and young girls; water and sanitation, climate change, citizenship, civic responsibilities, etc. Communities will be informed on their concerns and the world, and information concerning them disseminated to the public.

What technologies and digital tools do you plan to use in the trainings?

Blogs ^[3], Digital Photography ^[4], Mobile Phones ^[5]

Describe the connections that you or your organization have already established that will contribute to the success of the project.

AJESH presently works in partnership with most of these groups in the implementation of a project dubbed “Scaling Up Malaria Prevention for Impact in Cameroon”. Already aware of the poor communication systems, the direct beneficiaries’ skills gained will enhance project implementation.

How many participants do you think will be involved in your project?

Direct beneficiaries
60 women
50 youth
= 110

Existing governance structures, group executives, already put in place guarantees project sustainability.

Besides the microgrant funding, what other resources and support are you seeking for your project to ensure its success?

We strongly solicit Rising Voices to provide us with some technical skills on citizen media, sustainability strategies, Monitoring and Evaluation, accountability and material support such as video recorder(s), educational materials, high definition digital camera(s), overhead projector, etc. We also wish rising Voices to assist in Organisational Development and Institutional Strengthening for AJESH.

Cameroon: Disseminating Pro-Poor Information