Current HCR Projects

Aceh Community Disaster Preparedness 2008 Research

Health-promoting Radio

Location: Pilbara Region, Western Australia

Description:The project created and strengthened working partnerships between Pilbara-based Indigenous health and radio stations.

Activities: Training, ongoing technical advice and support and health-promoting radio program coordination. A mid-term evaluation found:

An increase in the number of health promoting radio programs or items
Greater spread of health promoting content across the radio station's programming schedule
Improved understanding and collaboration between stakeholders
Improved participation rates of listeners in health-related on-air discussion for the purposes of advocacy, social learning and dialogue, education and information
Increased relevance and consistency of health-related radio messages with local interventions by the public health services and Aboriginal medical services

Further links: Combined Universities Centre for Rural Health

Peace–building Radio

Location: Mindanao, Philippines

Description: Radio Gandingan supports a peace-building project in six barangays surrounding Cotabato City in Mindanao, Philippines. Mae-Mosette Quirante, HCR’s Country Manager, works in collaboration with Radio Gandingan Producer, Vernecie Castillon.

Activities: A radio listener’s survey was conducted in 2004 to inform strategic planning for a community-based peace-building radio program. The survey provides, for the first time, comprehensive details of media ownership and radio listening patterns among marginalized Magindanaons who live in conflict-affected barangays in the ARMM. Four hundred questionnaires were administered gathering data about radio listening patterns and the information valued in this conflict-affected environment. Eight in every 10 respondents had at least one working radio while 2 in every 10 did not have a radio set. The peak listening times for male and female respondents were 0700-0730 hours and 2000-2030 hours. The findings support the view that community-based participatory radio programming can be a vital communication tool for peace-building, health promotion and development at the barangay level in the Philippines. As a result of the findings local people are being trained in audio gathering techniques to record community interviews. They design and present the radio program which is integrated tightly with peace-building and community development activities in the six communities. Women, children, youth and men design peer-oriented radio programs aimed at strengthening empowerment and unity processes. A followup survey and evaluation of the expanded radio program will be conducted after 12 months of broadcast. Contact HCR for a survey summary

Related Publications: James R, Oczon M & Castillon V, Listener’s Survey for Peace-building Radio in Six Communities in Mindanao, Philippines

Aceh Community Disaster Preparedness 2008

Location: Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia

Description: This Community study is a joint initiative of Radio Djati FM and Health Communication Resources for the purpose of assessing the current levels of knowledge and awareness of disaster-preparedness among the people of Banda Aceh and Aceh Besar in the wake of the December 2004 earthquake and tsunami

The intent is to use the findings of this study to develop radio programs and associated activities leading to raised levels of awareness about disaster–preparedness in the communities, and especially among the most vulnerable sectors of the community. The station seeks to do this by working in close partnership with government and non-governmental agencies (NGOs) as well as with the communities themselves

Activities: In January 2008 a research project was conducted in Aceh province of Sumatra, Indonesia. It was conducted in partnership with Radio Djati FM and with the Ar-Raniry Institute of Islamic Studies. The research consisted of three main parts: a random-sample field survey consisting of 984 interviews in Banda Aceh; a series of focus group discussions among vulnerable people in Aceh Besar; and a series of key informant interviews with government officials

For an executive summary of the research click here

Other documents related to the research can be downloaded from the Downloads page

Disaster Response Radio

Location: Philippines, India, Indonesia

Description: The Rapid Response Radio Unit (RRRU) is a project that trains broadcasters in disaster prone areas to use radio as a tool in Disaster Response. Health Communication Resources has developed both workshop and field trial plans along with recommended equipment that allows a broadcaster to put a station on the air within 72 hours of a disaster. Broadcasters are also taught to partner with government agencies and NGOs. The Field trial is designed to be a time when all these groups work together to practise how they will cooperate during a real disaster.

Activities: The Rapid Response Radio Unit (RRRU) was first developed in Indonesia following the 2004 Tsunami. Since then Training has been completed in the Philippines in 2007, India in 2008 and Indonesia again in 2009. Following the Indian training with a local broadcast partner, the Indian team responded to the Flooding in Bihar, India in September 2008.

To get a copy of the RRRU feasibility study click here