This issue of The Drum Beat features a small selection of summaries available on The Communication Initiative website from 3 of our knowledge sections - Evaluations, Experiences, and Materials - which illustrate how communication and media are contributing to positive development action, around the world. Please send additional project, evaluation, strategic thinking, and materials information on communication for development at any time. Contact Deborah Heimann at dheimann@comminit.com

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The Drum Beat 470 contains:

•  Selections from our EVALUATIONS section.
•  New democracy and governance POLL.
•  Selections from our EXPERIENCES section.
•  Post your DEVELOPMENT CLASSIFIEDS with The CI.
•  Selections from our MATERIALS section.

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EVALUATIONS

1. GreenCOM 1993-2006: From Awareness to Action - Sustainable Solutions for a Better Environment

As explained in the introductory section of this report, in 1993 the Academy for Educational Development (AED) spearheaded an initiative centred around the conviction that people must actually participate fully in the planning process for new environmental initiatives and then be supported in their pursuit of solutions. By working together, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and AED - as well as government agencies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and hundreds of other entities - implemented projects in more than 30 countries on 3 continents. This report focuses on the impact that GreenCOM organisers contend they had in 5 of them: Tanzania, El Salvador, Egypt, Indonesia, and Panama. For example, Tanzania's Community Environmental Awards Scheme (CEAS) works to "energize people in coastal communities to get involved in sustainably managing their local resources and reward them for their efforts, both with modest prizes and recognition among peers....Through CEAS, Tanzanians from all walks of life began to reshape their environments and their livelihoods..."

2. 3-Year Results of a Collaborative School-based Oral Health Program in a Remote First Nations Community

by Andrew J. Macnab, Jacob Rozmus, David Benton, and Faith A. Gagnon

This evaluation examines an oral health initiative - "Brighter Smiles" - designed to improve the knowledge and behaviour of school-aged children in a small, remote First Nations community in Canada. The community- and university-supported, school-based, collaborative oral health programme consisted of daily brush-ins, fluoride application, educational presentations, and a recognition/incentive scheme. Prior to the intervention, 8% of children were cavity-free. At the end of the first year, 41% of the children had no new cavities; after 3 years, 32% were cavity-free. "The response of the community was consistently positive, and resulted in requests for additional interventions, including immunization and screening for type 2 diabetes. The pediatric trainees reported significant increase in insight and understanding of the issues and obstacles faced by their aboriginal patients in remote communities."

3. Prevention or Cure? Comparing Preventive and Recuperative Approaches to Targeting Maternal and Child Health and Nutrition Programs in Rural Haiti: Executive Summary of the Evaluation Report

by Purnima Menon, Marie T. Ruel, Mary Arimond, Jean-Pierre Habicht, Bekele Hankebo, Cornelia Loechl, John Maluccio, Mduduzi Mbuya, Lesly Michaud, and Gretel Pelto

This document summarises research conducted in the Central Plateau region of Haiti to compare 2 approaches to food-assisted maternal and child health and nutrition programmes: a preventive approach, in which food is provided to all children 6-24 months in areas with a high prevalence of malnutrition, and a recuperative approach, in which food is used to rehabilitate children already suffering from moderate malnutrition. Researchers found that indicators of malnutrition were 4 to 6 percentage points lower in communities that participated in preventive programmes, compared with those that received a recuperative approach. "For most key practices, respondents in preventive program areas were more likely to report awareness, trial and adoption than were respondents in recuperative areas...probably as a result of their longer exposure to the [behaviour change communication] BCC intervention and the more timely delivery of the messages (i.e., at the age when knowledge and adoption of specific practices was most relevant)."

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Please VOTE in our Democracy and Governance POLL !

What is your answer to James Deane's blog question: "Is a free and plural media more important than elections in securing democratic development?" (See James' blog - click here.)

• Yes
•  No
•  Depends

VOTE and COMMENT click here.

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EXPERIENCES

4. Yayasan Tambuhak Sinta (YTS) - Indonesia

Based in the natural-resource-rich Indonesian provinces of Kalimantan, YTS was established in 1998 by a mineral exploration company as part of its commitment to work hand in hand with local communities to create conditions that will enable large-scale development to be balanced, sustainable, and equitable. To foster this process, YTS staff facilitates community-based needs analysis, using the Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) methodology. Each village then develops an annual Community Development Plan, which YTS helps the village find the means to implement. This assistance includes promoting components to government and donor agencies and providing technical support - e.g., for key livelihood activities that are prioritised in the plan. Technical experts are contracted by each village directly, with the idea that - by learning to manage the contract mechanism and the community planning process - each community can take charge of its own development, hopefully becoming much more self-reliant and independent in the process.

Contact: Bardolf Paul bardolfpaul@gmail.com OR tambuhaksinta@gmail.com

5. Radio Farah Al Nas - Jordan
Launched in June 2008, Radio Farah Al Nas ("Joy of the People") is a community radio station in Amman, Jordan, that is designed to be fully grounded in community needs and realities, with young people at the helm. For this reason, Internews trained and supported young people ages 10 to 24 to operate the radio station. The young journalists are learning the technical and journalistic skills needed to fulfill their commitment to "promoting change for their communities and country through transparent reporting and unbiased news coverage." Managed by the Jordanian Hashemite Fund for Human Development (JOHUD), Radio Farah Al Nas broadcasts news and covers political, development, and social issues that directly affect Jordanians - in particular, youth and women.
Contact: Haitham Atoom info@johud.org.jo

6. Young Leaders Integrity Alliance (YLIA) - Global

YLIA is a multinational, multicultural, multi-faith association of young leaders committed to promoting sound leadership, good governance, and ethical behaviour, and to fighting corruption at all levels of society (including public, private, and civil society). Still in its formative stages, the group plans to draw on both information and communication technologies (ICTs) and face-to-face training to build the capacity of young leaders for community-level action, and advocacy around issues of democracy and governance. "YLIA's purpose is to bring the world's young people to the policy-making table, utilizing their energies, ideals and creativity to help build an equitable, sustainable and peaceful world."

Contact: John Graham youngleadersintegrityalliance-owner@yahoogroups.com

7. Media Awareness Exchange (MAE) - Eastern Europe and Central Asia, South East and East Asia, South Pacific

The Asia-Pacific Broadcasting Union (ABU) creates and sustains this regular distribution vehicle for pro-social and sustainable development content. The content available on the MAE website includes public service announcements (PSAs), video and audio news releases (VNRs), news features, and short documentaries. In addition, "toolkits" are offered for broadcasters who wish to obtain scripts and footage for adapting for use in their own, locally-produced, culturally- and linguistically-relevant productions. Selected campaigns and content are delivered through a regular, monthly satellite transmission. In addition, the ABU-MAE Project Awards Programme is designed to help motivate and underwrite the development and production of local television and radio programming on HIV/AIDS.

Contact: Francyne Harrigan francyne@abu.org.my / info@abu.org.my OR Lisa Mohamad lisa@abu.org.my / info@abu.org.my

8. Magic Shows for TB Sensitisation - India

Several communities in India joined the global push to eradicate tuberculosis (TB) on the occasion of World TB Day (March 24) 2008 by creating awareness about the disease through entertainment. District-level TB Control Societies joined with a magician and his team to perform magic shows in areas with low levels of education such as urban slums, as well as in nursing schools and major hospitals. This method, which integrates role plays as well, combines entertainment with clear messages about TB - as conveyed by a local public health expert. Some physicians have also organised community-level sensitisation workshops for TB patients, members of the public, NGO representatives, and health workers. At one of these workshops, the local physician leading the session took the STOP TB pledge and asked all those present to do the same.

Contact: Dr. Gagandeep Singh Grover dr_gagangrover@yahoo.co.in

9. Together We Can - Caribbean, Latin America

This Red Cross/Red Crescent methodology for working with youth uses a peer-to-peer approach to raise awareness about HIV and AIDS. Together We Can places an emphasis during peer educator training on helping young people develop the necessary skills to utilise dynamic, interactive educational techniques such as role-playing, group discussions, and quizzes using a non-judgmental approach. Participants are encouraged (and supervised) to act as information disseminators and behavioural change agents. An interactive online forum is designed to act as a place where participants can exchange experiences, discuss issues, continue friendships, and engage in moderated sessions. As of 2008, Together We Can is being implemented in 7 countries in Central America, including the Dominican Republic, and 3 countries in South America.

Contact: Dylis McDonald dylis.mcdonald@ifrc.org OR Carolina Cossio carolina.cossio@ifrc.org OR Norma Garcia de Paredes norma.garciadeparedes@ifrc.org

10. Ahali Center for Community Development - Israel

Ahali, meaning "people in community", is a grassroots organisation that works to empower the Palestinian society in Israel by providing a framework for groups and individuals to organise themselves. As part of this process, Ahali builds the capacities of local professional and community-based organisations through training and skills development, and by accompanying them in lobbying and advocacy for their rights before state institutions. For instance, as part of one of its 4 main projects, Ahali organises professional workshops, lectures, and field tours for Arab farmers and establishes local committees and farmers' organisations. Ahali also publishes a bimonthly agricultural, environmental, and rural development magazine, as well as numerous bulletins, newsletters, and brochures. This project is expected to culminate in the establishment of a national organisation of Arab farmers.

Contact: Sobhi Sger s.sobhi@gmail.com / mn_afp@ahalicenter.org

11. Film Clips for Character Education - United States

This project uses the medium of popular film within an educational setting to stimulate students' thinking on moral action and character. It is based on the conviction that teachers who are open to use of popular culture in the classroom can have greater impact than those who rely solely on didactic teaching from print media or oral delivery of information. The project includes study guides, standards-based cross-curricular applications, teacher training materials, and evidence-based assessments. This material supports the project's vision to encourage and enable teachers to incorporate film clips across the curriculum and throughout the disciplines - with the ultimate goal of mobilising students to engage as active and responsible community members and citizens. Although the initial potential audience is the United States, the vision is for global distribution and availability in most languages.

Contact: Jill McDonald jillian12000@yahoo.com

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DEVELOPMENT CLASSIFIEDS

Development Classifieds is a NEW initiative of The Communication Initiative which includes listings of any development-related jobs, consultants, requests for proposals (RFPs), events, training opportunities, and books, journals, or videos for sale. Please click here.

The next issue of the Development Classifieds E-magazine will be published December 5th 2008.

Please submit open vacancies from within your organisation, event information, training opportunities, upcoming RFPs, details about your consultancy skills, and information about books, journals, or videos for sale as soon as possible to ensure inclusion. See website or contact jsavidge@comminit.com

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MATERIALS

12. News as Entertainment: The Rise of Global Infotainment

by Daya Kishan Thussu

This book-length study of "infotainment" and its globalisation intends to offer a comprehensive and critical analysis of this emerging phenomenon. "A 'global infotainment sphere' is emerging, the book argues, within which competing versions of news - from 24/7 news networks to bloggers - coexist."

13. Facilitating Multicultural Groups: A Practical Guide

by Christine Hogan

This practical resource for facilitators working with people from culturally diverse backgrounds takes the reader through research in the field, as well as models, frameworks, and processes that are designed to assist with the preparation, facilitation, and evaluation of workshops. Based on research and facilitator experiences from diverse countries, it advises on how to adapt learning materials and participatory processes to suit different situations. It offers techniques to develop inter-cultural dialogue as a tool for enhancing understanding and teamwork between people from culturally diverse groups.

14. Advocacy and Interventions: Readings in Communication and Development

by Royal Colle

This book of communication for development ideas, case studies, issues, models, and field-tested methods from the practitioner perspective is designed for policy makers, project planners, and students of advanced courses in development communication or rural development. The author explores how the new ICTs could accelerate progress toward the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

15. Freedom of the Press: A Global Survey of Media Independence

This web-based resource, published annually by Freedom House, provides information about press freedom around the world. The website includes global and regional pages highlighting the main trends for each year, as well as: detailed historical data since 1980, annual essays summarising the state of global press freedom, interactive maps showing the state of press freedom in a country for each year since 2002, and reports and ratings for every country in the world. The web pages also contain links to various press freedom resources.

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The Drum Beat seeks to cover the full range of communication for development activities. Inclusion of an item does not imply endorsement or support by The Partners.

Please send material for The Drum Beat to the Editor - Deborah Heimann dheimann@comminit.com

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