The Drum Beat Issue 598 – Entertainment-Education News and Issues
October 10 2011
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From The Communication Initiative Network – where communication and media are central to social and economic development.
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Access this issue online at http://www.comminit.com/en/drum_beat_598.html
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This issue of The Drum Beat offers you some of the latest developments in the field of entertainment-education (E-E), sharing just a small sampling of some of the many summaries on The Communication Initiative website that explore this communication for development (C4D) strategy. As the items below illustrate, E-E is being re-imagined – using tools such as film, radio, theatre, and television – to address a multitude of issues, including HIV/AIDS, democracy and governance, intercultural communication, and the environment.
Conversations about the use of this strategy and its impact will be at the forefront of the 5th International Entertainment Education Conference (EE5), to be held in New Delhi, India, November 17-20 2011 – http://comminit.com/clickthru/737bbfa78f2d56cbdff4db90edd9968a?node=9283663 Your participation is welcome! Further details and links are provided below…
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SELECTED E-E INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS HIV/AIDS
1. The Clown Project (El Proyecto Payaso): Communication on HIV/AIDS – Guatemala
The central strategy of the project is to disseminate information about HIV/AIDS in a fun and engaging way, through street theatre. The freedom of expression represented by the figure of the clown is used to highlight issues that have traditionally been taboo and to stimulate discussion about them. The Clown Project (El Proyecto Payaso) has a special emphasis on training young people as multipliers of educational messages; to this end, in addition to information on HIV/AIDS, peer educators are trained in theatre and collectively make a theatre script for presentation of theatre in their communities.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/clown-project-el-proyecto-payaso-communication-hivaids
2. Sesame Square – Nigeria
This Nigerian co-production of the children’s television series Sesame Street is designed to educate and delight the country’s youngest citizens. The project combines locally produced segments, including live action films and animation, with international library segments. Broadcast on the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA), Sesame Square offers children an entertainment-based vehicle for learning basic literacy, mathematics, life skills, and health, including age-appropriate HIV/AIDS education.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/sesame-square
3. Aquí no pasa nada (Nothing Is Going on Here) – Peru
Developed by PCI-Media Impact (Media Impact) and Red Sida Cusco, this Peruvian radio drama was designed to promote access to information about sexual and reproductive health, gender, HIV/AIDS, sexually transmitted infections (STIs), and teenage pregnancy. Youth participation in behaviour change was also part of this initiative through a collaboration with Red SIDA Cusco, a coalition of organisations united to address the prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS in Cusco, Peru. For instance, 16-year-old Bryan roamed the streets of Cusco to inform his peers about the effects of HIV/AIDS and how to prevent contracting the virus. Bryan spent time walking through the main gathering places for teens, inviting them to play games targeted at improving knowledge and practices for prevention.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/aqu%C3%AD-no-pasa-nada-nothing-going-here
4. The Scrutinize Campaign: Using Humour to Strengthen HIV Prevention
by Bronwyn Pearce
This January 2011 report describes and evaluates the role and effectiveness of the use of humour as a strategy in Scrutinize, a campaign created in partnership with United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the Johns Hopkins Health Education in South Africa (JHHESA), and designer jeans label Levi’s. In an effort to encourage and equip young people to take responsibility to reduce their risk of HIV infection, the campaign uses animated township characters who illustrate daily life encounters that place young people at risk of HIV infection. A qualitative evaluation conducted in October 2009 indicated that the vast majority of focus group participants agreed that humour was characterised as easier to relate to, able to evoke interest, and, hence, more effective in getting the message across in non-threatening way.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/scrutinize-campaign-using-humour-strengthen-hiv-prevention
5. Entertainment-Education Radio Serial Drama and Outcomes Related to HIV Testing in Botswana
by Katina Pappas-DeLuca, Joan Marie Kraft, Christine Galavotti, Lee Warner, Maungo Mooki, Phil Hastings, Todd Koppenhaver, Thierry Roels, and Peter Kilmarx
This article, published in June 2009, shares findings of an evaluation to assess preliminary data on the effectiveness, particularly on HIV testing behaviours, of an entertainment-education radio serial drama, Makgabaneng. The authors concluded that the popularity of Makgabaneng combined with preliminary evidence of its effects on intermediate outcomes related to HIV testing suggest that the radio serial drama is a promising medium to facilitate behaviour change in Botswana.
http://www.comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/entertainment-education-radio-serial-drama-and-outcomes-related-hiv-testing-botswana
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The 5th International Entertainment Education Conference (EE5) New Delhi, India – November 17-20 2011
http://comminit.com/clickthru/737bbfa78f2d56cbdff4db90edd9968a?node=9283663
One of The CI’s Partners, The Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, along with The University of Texas at El Paso/Social Justice Initiative, Hollywood, Health and Society, and their international and local Collaborating Partners, are pleased to announce that keynote speakers at the 5th International Entertainment Education Conference (EE5) will include Arvind Singhal, Mallika Sarabhai, and David Gere, with special guests Onir, Emer Beamer, and Sesame Street Puppets Grover and Chamki! The conference will be held in New Delhi, India, November 17-20 2011. The focus will be on reaching those most vulnerable, particularly women and children, with E-E strategies.
The organisers of the conference describe E-E and the event as follows: «Rooted in oral traditions (song, dance, drama and story-telling), EE extends to mass media (television, radio, print) and is now crossing new boundaries with innovations in technology (social networking, mobile phones, internet and gaming). EE5 will explore the state-of-the-art in Entertainment Education and position the field for the next generation of innovations. It will bring together a variety of stakeholders from around the world to examine best practices and new advances, conduct hands-on, participatory learning and explore techniques to improve effectiveness.»
Please note that the Conference registration and payment deadline has been extended to October 28th.
Conference details at:
http://comminit.com/clickthru/737bbfa78f2d56cbdff4db90edd9968a?node=9283663
Registration form (deadline: October 28th) at:
http://comminit.com/clickthru/ebea7603c55b403decb6efd0ab868bc2?node=9283663
EE5 on Facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/pages/5th-International-Entertainment-Education-Conference-EE5/243863265638713
EE5 on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/#!/EE5conf
EE5 photos on Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/ee5
EE5 on YouTube:
http://www.youtube.com/user/EE5conf
Any other questions? Contact:
Peggy Lee at plee@jhsph.edu
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SELECTED E-E INITIATIVES TO BRIDGE DIVIDES
6. Salam Shabab: Views and Voices of Iraqi Youth – Iraq
Produced by Iraqi filmmakers with United States Institute of Peace (USIP) support, this reality television series filmed in Iraq brought together Iraqi youth (ages 14-18) from 6 provinces to compete for a chance to become youth «Ambassadors of Peace». During a 4-week span in July 2010, more than 50 Iraqi teens gathered in Erbil to get to know each other, exchange views on peace in their country, and compete in a series of challenges designed to appeal to a TV audience consisting of their peers. Producers worked with Iraqi educators and youth organisations to design a peacebuilding curriculum as the backbone of the television programme. Then, the participants chose captains for their team and faced off in the sport challenges, matching wits and creativity in the mental challenges. Finally, they presented their short films and performances in front of a live studio audience that voted for the winners. Each winning team would then compete in the championship round. The reality !
show will be broadcast as a 10-episode series over a network of Iraqi satellite channels beginning on October 8 2011.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/salam-shabab-views-and-voices-iraqi-youth
7. Across the Ocean – Europe and North America
Across the Ocean offers children and schools the opportunity to share their stories and to share their artwork, comics, or animated films on the internet. Reports by and for children share information about school exchanges, travel experiences, and possibilities for getting involved in a worldwide exchange. On this radio network, participants can: exchange stories about life at home and at school; listen to music and learn about books; discuss ideas that are important to children around the world; learn about life on both continents; talk about history, science, and the environment; share ideas on sports and hobbies; and create shows especially for girls.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/across-ocean
8. Melody for Dialogue Among Civilizations Association – Global
This initiative draws on music and musical performance as a catalyst for cultural dialogue and communication. It is based on the premise that music has the potential to serve as a bridge between peoples and to foster conversation and connection among civilizations, cultures, and communities.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/melody-dialogue-among-civilizations-association
9. Imagining the Future IV: Theatrescience India at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS), Bangalore, India
This May 2009 report examines an intercultural theatre exchange whose goal was to strengthen and broaden science-theatre connections already partially in place in the United Kingdom (UK) and Bangalore, India. As part of this exchange, practitioners from the Theatrescience project in the United Kingdom (UK) connected with those from the Jagriti Theatre in Bangalore, India. Practitioners from the latter company were in residence at the National Centre for Biological Sciences (NCBS) for 4 weeks in 2009; they collaborated with scientists from NCBS and created 2 new pieces of theatre that explored how current biomedical science developments are affecting lives of people in India and the UK.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/imagining-future-iv-theatrescience-india-national-centre-biological-sciences-ncbs-bangal
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Please share your voice in our Entertainment-Education poll!
http://www.comminit.com/entertainment-education/node/9280149
Social and Behavioural Change strategies should focus on
* Voice of affected
* Behaviours of affected
* Social environment
* Individual choice
* Policy Context
* Other (please comment)
Vote here and see how your colleagues have responded to this question: http://www.comminit.com/entertainment-education/node/9280149
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SELECTED E-E INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
10. The Rough Season
This audio soap opera is designed to raise awareness on disaster risk among the most vulnerable communities in the English-speaking Caribbean. Produced by ARTS-in-ACTION, Centre for Creative and Festival Arts, University of the West Indies (UWI), «The Rough Season» features what are meant to be catchy tunes and engaging, culturally appropriate characters to inform communities in the Caribbean who are vulnerable to recurrent natural hazards such as floods, hurricanes, storms, and landslides, as well as the food security crisis.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/rough-season
11. The Last Man Standing – Puppet Show – Kenya
Produced by the Kenya Institute of Puppet Theatre, this puppetry performance advocates for conservation and participatory management of the Greater Mara ecosystem that supports the wildebeest and other wildlife species in Kenya. The Last Man Standing is touring East Africa before embarking for festivals in Europe and Asia. The performance is designed to raise awareness and inspire community-based mobilisation around climate change and protecting the environment.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/last-man-standing-puppet-show
12. My Island-My Community – Caribbean
This is a 3-part communication initiative – regional radio soap opera, national radio magazine call-in shows, and national Community Action Campaigns – addressing climate change in the Eastern Caribbean. The programme is using media and communications to address a suite of pressing environmental, social, health and economic issues, encouraging community resilience to climate change and sustainable development.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/my-island-my-community
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Seeking more information? Please check out the relevant The CI/Soul Beat/CILA Entertainment-Education theme sites at:
CI Global
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/category/sites/global/entertainment-education
Soul Beat Africa
http://comminit.com/edutain-africa/category/sites/africa/edutainment-africa
La Iniciativa de Comunicación
http://groups.comminit.com/eduentretenimiento/es/
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SELECTED E-E INITIATIVES TO ADDRESS GOVERNANCE AND RIGHTS ISSUES
13. Mopila Comic Book Series
Produced by Search for Common Ground (SFCG), this comic book series is about a taxi driver in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) called Mopila. The comic book series seeks to provide an accessible and entertaining way to communicate about issues related to good governance and citizens’ rights. Mopila originally began life as a character on a radio drama before becoming the lead character in this comic book series.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/mopila-comic-book-series
14. Radio Station Building Project – Indonesia
This Indonesia-wide radio station building project is being implemented by Indonesian radio news agency, KBR68H, together with an Indonesian non-profit called the Indonesian Association for Media Development (PPMN), and supported by the Media Development Loan Fund (MDLF). The goal of such programmes is clearly to inform and educate, but they are also intended to encourage active public participation in debates about local issues to enable listeners to engage in the democratic process and to recognise their right to do so. Entertainment programmes are also usually popular, as the stations are in areas where there are few, if any, other entertainment options. Local songs from the area are often a big draw, with Indonesian and western music also popular in some areas.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/radio-station-building-project
15. Advocacy for Peace and Conflict Resolution – Uganda
Launched by the Uganda Peace Foundation Initiative (UPFI), the Advocacy for Peace and Conflict Resolution programme aims to strengthen community peace and conflict transformation capacities in northern Uganda’s districts of Kitgum, Pader, and Gulu. UPFI provides focused programmes for youth and returnees (formerly rebel forces) in rehabilitation, healing, and reconstruction. UPFI also uses religious initiatives, sport activities like peace football and netball, and exchange visit between IDP camps. Cultural activities like traditional songs, dancing, and drama and documentary processes are also used.
http://comminit.com/entertainment-education/content/advocacy-peace-and-conflict-resolution
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This issue of The Drum Beat was written by Kier Olsen DeVries.
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The Drum Beat is the email and web network of The Communication Initiative Partnership – ANDI, BBC World Service Trust, Bernard van Leer Foundation, Calandria, CFSC Consortium, CIDA, DFID, FAO, Fundación Nuevo Periodismo Iberoamericano, Ford Foundation, Healthlink Worldwide, Inter-American Development Bank, International Institute for Communication and Development, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs, MISA, PAHO, The Panos Institute, The Rockefeller Foundation, SAfAIDS, Sesame Workshop, Soul City, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, UNAIDS, UNDP, UNICEF, USAID, WHO, W.K. Kellogg Foundation.
Chair of the Partners Group: Garth Japhet, Founder, Soul City garth@heartlines.org.za
Executive Director: Warren Feek wfeek@comminit.com
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