ADRA Malawi set to mainstream KM

By Elias Banda
ADRA Malawi is now set to mainstream knowledgemanagement systems after staffs, drawn from different projects went through a week- long Knowledge management training. The training also drew participants from other ADRA offices from Uganda, Burundi, Rwanda and South Sudan.
The training took place at Ufulu Gardens in the Capital Lilongwe from 12 -16 November 2012.  The objective of the training was to equip staff how to create, share, store and utilize information in the organization.  Participants learnt that KM processes required an enabling environment in the organization for tacit knowledge to be effectively generated and shared among employees. The training was facilitated by the Malawian based HCDM consultants.
The training ended a mandate that each ADRA office develop an action plan to establish the KM systems. Speaking when closing, HCDM Lead Consultant Booker Matanvu urged participants to make use of the knowledge gained to establish KM systems and that his organization  would be available to offer support when ever need arises.

KM participants pose for photograph after the training

Lise Grauenkaer, ADRA Denmark Program Coordinator described the training as historic because it brought together several countries that implement the Action for Social Change Program. She pointed out on the need to have a follow on the training.
ADRA Malawi Country Director, Claudio Sandoval  said the training was a blessing to ADRA and that participants should utilize the knowledge acquired effectively and efficiently.  He said that people work in ADRA in order to change others and that the knowledge acquired should be used to make a difference on other people. He thanked ADRA Denmark for the support rendered for the success of the training.
 

Partnerships for a successful program

By Elias Banda

The ADRA Action for Social Change Program (ASC) roll out got an overwhelming reception by the District Executive Committees (DECs) of the four selected districts that the program is being implemented in.

DEC meetings were organized in the three districts to sensitize governmental and non- governmental stakeholders on the program approach.

District officials in Machinga, Mulanje and Mzimba echoed the same view that the ASC program was the right approach to bring change in the targeted communities and pledged to support the planned activities. The Lilongwe DEC meeting has been scheduled to take place in April.

During presentations in Machinga and Mulanje, ADRA Malawi Programs Director Michael Usi said the program would use the ADRA media programs to advocate for positive change. These programs known as Zatonse and Tikuferanji will include both radio and television and will be broadcasted with the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation. He challenged DEC members to use the media platforms whenever they have pertinent developmental issues to be advocated for.

Before proceeding with DEC meeting in Mzimba, program staff sought audience with chief Ntwalo Jere III at his Headquarters to brief him about the program. The chief commended ADRA for the program and asked ADRA to scale up its activities in the rural areas.

With funds from Denmark, the nine-year program aims at strengthening a vibrant locally rooted civil society in Malawi which can be a dynamic actor in social, political and economical development process in areas of HIV /AIDS, food security and livelihood. The program will also focus on communication for social change processes, networking and partnership strengthening to bring about social change.

Throughout the program, it is hoped that targeted communities will be empowered through strengthened capacity, to advocate for change within their communities.

Each programmatic theme has its own targets. Under the HIV /AIDS domain, the program seeks to ensure that community based groups (CBGs) are ably engaged in HIV /AIDS activities and have improved ability to represent and express group interest with community, state and private market actors, at least by the end of the program period.

In its’ livelihood activities, the program will engage targeted community groups in sustainable livelihood and food security in order for them to have improved ability to represent group interests and interaction with community, state and private market actors.

Advocacy issues will be presented by targeted communities to relevant stakeholders that they identify, through the use of both local and national media platforms that will include more citizen voices, diverse views and perspectives of the most vulnerable and marginalized.

ADRA Malawi will work to strengthen its ability to effectively play its’ role as a civil society actor both nationally and internationally in order to advocate for the needs and rights of marginalized groups.

Through this program Action for Social Change, ADRA Malawi intends to facilitate the growth of vibrant and active communities who are empowered to pursue development for their community.

Volunteering in Malawi (1/2)

During the month of August ADRA Malawi was proud to host two high-school students from the UK for a week of volunteer experience. They were exposed to many different aspects of development, from working in the head office to a visit to a community based youth group, who use theatre to influence their community and raise awareness of issues such as domestic violence and HIV/AIDS. The following stories reflect their experiences and what impacted them during their week in Malawi.

Kerryn Lodo: Volunteer Supervisor

Author: Bianca Mawee-Patel

When hearing that we would be seeing an active Theatre for Development program performed in a village, I was interested in seeing how a piece of theatre could really influence the community in changing their attitudes towards important issues.

The aim of Theatre for Development is to use live performance to communicate information across a range of sectors to bring about change in attitudes and lifestyle.

The youth community group is made up of around 15 boys and girls, although due to illness and lack of transport, only 7 were present at the performance in ­­­­­­­­­­­Chiradzulu. The youth group meets voluntarily once a week for about two hours, and as a group they discuss which issues they feel need to be bought to attention. They then create a short piece of theatre outlining this.

Everybody within the group gets involved and performs with real energy and passion for getting their message across. When asked why they attend the youth group, they all said that as youths, they had a responsibility to educate their community, change their attitudes and change the misconceptions towards issues such as HIV/AIDS, violence, theft and abuse.

Since the topics are quite sensitive – and some members might not want to be directly told about them – the youth group use music, song, dance, comedy, role plays and forums to get their message across. This serves two purposes, to provide the community with useful information and also as a form of entertainment where the whole community gathers together. There is a relaxed atmosphere where the community feels comfortable to get involved with the theatre. During the forum, at the end of the theatre, I was surprised to see how many people were speaking up about what they had learned from the youths. One of the youths stood in front of the community (which was made up of about 130 people of all ages) to outline the major aims of their piece.

The topic covered in the theatre I witnessed was awareness of HIV/AIDS. In the forum, the community was actively discussing the fact that a person has a right to know if their partner is HIV positive. But, what I found was the most interesting was the fact that instead of the youths simply telling the community the right answers, they were asking the community, letting them realise for themselves. This I feel is a good way of letting the community come up with the solutions to their own problems, remembering that there are no right answers, as every community differs ( one community might have come up with a different solution to another). During the role-play, it was good to see the community really responding to the issues covered. This was either through the comedy and the fact that they could relate.

This experience has shown Theatre for Development to be an extremely effective way in creating dialogue and change in the community and the responses were really positive. The youths do so much to try and educate their community and it’s obvious to see that they feel that they have a responsibility as youths to change the ways of the community. In comparison the youth in the UK are not as active as in Malawi, and it’s a real eye opener to compare the priorities of a youth in Malawi who wants to influence change within their community against the priority of youth in the UK who have a much more individual focus.

“Tikuferanji” takes new turn ('The Daily Times' - article)

Again, one of the main newspapers in Malawi, chooses to feature an article about ADRA Malawi. This specific article presents an external view about the impact that our Communication for Social Change program, Tikuferanji, is having in the Malawian society and presents several unexpected outcomes that show of the importance of the strategy. In special I would like to underline the great honor that was for ADRA Malawi to have the President of the Republic, commenting on one of the episodes, and for the interesting analyses that the journalist, McDonald Chapalata, makes of the public intervention of the President.

Bellow the tanscript made by Aninde Migogo, from ADRA Malawi, of the “The Daily Times” newspaper article.

Title: “Tikuferanji” takes new turn

Source: The Daily Times (October 7, 2009)

By: McDonald Chapalapata – Journalist of “The Daily Times”

It all started with one straight forward question: Tikuferanji? Which literary translated meant why are we dying? The reason of such deaths was HIV/AIDS, according to the project.

The drama series produced by the Adventist Development Relief Agency(ADRA) has been on the radio for nearly 13 years and on television for approximately 8 years spreading the message on HIV/AIDS issues.

As one of the most popular television shows in the country, Tikuferanji received the radio play of the Year Award at the 2008 MBC Entertainers of Year Awards, and it has been voted the best advocacy programme in Malawi on radio and television. It also received the Best Achiever Award in 2007.

But the focus of the drama series has slowly been widening to encompass not only HIV/AIDS issues but also addressing issues on human rights, gender, democracy and other social topics.

Even the head of state has commented on some of the issues being raised by the drama series.

“ I saw a play a few weeks ago where one who had just voted and dipped his two fingers with ink was saying he was going to demand money for voting for President and MP. If that person came to me I could have blasted him” President Bingu Muntharika told a campaign rally before by- elections in Ndirande Central constituency in July this year.

The play he had seen was Tikuferanji on Television Malawi (TVM) where Manganya (played by Michael Usi) was demanding money for voting for a President and a member of Parliament.

This issue attracted a huge debate on the roles of the MPs where buying of coffins during funerals was not one of them.

During the campaign period, another social issue the programme exposed was the problem of power blackouts in the country.

Manganya was President of Nginana party and made electricity his campaign tool telling prospective voters how lack of consistent power supply retards development.

Recently, the consumer Association Of Malawi (CAMA) took electricity Corporation of Malawi (ESCOM) to task over its slogan of “Power all day everyday”

Escom has since changed the slogan to a more realistic one of “Towards Power all day everyday”

In July this year Manganya was invited by the Malawi Defence force for a 20-kilometre march to raise awareness of the HIV/AIDS in the army.

Usi, who is deputy Country Director for ADRA said in an interview this week that they have decided to broaden the focus of the series because they are sensitive to issues affecting the citizenry.

“We are in touch with the people on the ground, the citizenry and we would want to address issues that affect them. We have to move with time,” Usi said.

He said for example, the drama series which is going to be aired tomorrow night on TVM will centre on a football match between Malawi and Ivory Cost who are playing on Saturday at Kamuzu Stadium.

“Football is one of the things that are dear or close to the hearts of the people and we will be addressing that issue but at the same time we will not be forgetting the theme of this programme, Tikuferanji?or why are we dying?” he said.

But how did he feel when the President commented on his play?

“The Presidents comments motivated us. It really pays when you do research and present issues which even the head of state comments on,” Usi said.

He said there was an outcry from both the MPs and the constituents on the roles of MPs which incuded buying of coffins and helping people with food.

“We should look at both sides of this issue. People pester MPs a lot sometimes on simple things like food, camping at an MPs house just to get food and that is why maybe they desert the village and live in town,” Usi said.

He also said other MPs just “leave” their constituents and live in town without any reason.

“We were looking at an opportune time to deliver the message and I am glad that when we did, it was acted upon by the President.” Usi said.

He says before producing the series on different issues, he consults widely including lawyers.

“ Tikuferanji is a serious programme presented in a lighter manner,” summed up Usi.

He says ADRA conducts community dialogue sessions where they get to know issues affecting people.

Usi also says their communications team search for information from the internet, newspaper, radios and many other forms of media.

He says because of the successes of the communication for development innovations, ADRA Malawi’s projects are a benchmark for other countries like Burundi, Zimbabwe and even Sweden.

“ Denmark sent me to Burundi to set up a radio programme on the healing process of the war on children. The programme is up and running and many are learning and appreciating the importance of conflict resolution,” Usi says.

Apart from the drama series ADRA is involved in other community based programmes aiming at improving the welfare of the people.

In the civil society and empowerment programme, ADRA Malawi holds community participation and management as a priority and endeavors to build capacity of communities in leadership, governance and democratic processes to promote inclusion.

ADRA is also involved in food security and resilience programme where the main emphasis is increasing food availability, strengthening local economies and improving nutrition.

Usi pays tribute to their donors, the Danish government for supporting them “although it severed its ties with the Malawi government”.

In Malawi, Popular ADRA TV Program Expands Audience

SILVER SPRING, Md. — In Malawi, the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) has reached an agreement with a privately owned television station to broadcast a successful television and radio series that uses drama to educate the public about HIV/AIDS spread and prevention by highlighting responsible and safe sexual behavior.

“As a TV station we thought it wise to enter into partnership with ADRA to start showing Tikuferanji as part of sensitizing people about the HIV/AIDS pandemic,” said Father Andrew Kaufa, a representative of Luntha Television, which broadcasts from Balaka, a city located southeast of Malawi’s capital city of Lilongwe. He added that this was another opportunity for more people to watch the programs.

Tikuferanji, which means, “Why are we dying?” in the national Chichewa language, addresses important HIV/AIDS related issues, such as the importance of blood testing, condom use, marital and family relations, and faithfulness. Recently, the program has also taken on other topics that affect human rights, such as child labor and personal responsibility, using HIV/AIDS as a platform.

The program, at times recorded in local villages, discusses the personal experiences of people who have been affected by HIV/AIDS and other related issues, providing a sense of reality to the drama.

Tikuferanji is already being broadcast on Television Malawi and the state-run Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC). It has been on the radio in Malawi for nearly 13 years and on television for approximately eight. As one of the most popular television shows in Malawi, it received last December the “Radio Play of the Year Award” at the 2008 MBC Entertainers of Year Awards, and has been voted the best advocacy program in Malawi on radio and television. It also received the Best Achiever Award in 2007.

According to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), nearly 12 percent of Malawians between the ages of 15 and 49, or 840,000 people, live with HIV. An additional 91,000 children under the age of 14 are also living with the deadly virus.

Since 1982, ADRA Malawi has been working in the areas of disaster relief, water and sanitation, HIV/AIDS, family planning, agriculture, primary health, basic education, and empowerment of vulnerable groups, such as women and children.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

For more information about ADRA, visit www.adra.org.

Author: Nadia McGill

(Original article can be found in the ADRA International Website)

Tikuferanji on Luntha TV

Last Friday, 11^th September, the two most important news papers in the Country, “The Nation” and “The Daily Times”, have published articles on the recently signed agreement between ADRA Malawi and the private television Luntha TV to broadcast the ADRA Malawi acclaimed TV series “Tikuferanji”.

The program has been on radio for almost thirteen years and on TV for about eight years. The initial purpose for the program was to deal with issues of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. The program has now taken on board other issues that affect the respect of human rights; HIV/AIDS being a cross cutting issue.

Journalist Sam Banda Jnr, writes on the Daily Times:

The popular Tikuferanji series which viewers have been watching on Malawi Television (TVM) will soon be beamed on Balaka based Television Luntha. This follows the signing of a contract on Wednesday between Adventist Relief Agency (ADRA) and TV Luntha. Producer of Tikuferanji series Michael Usi popularly known as Manganya confirmed the development. He said the signing of the contract was a positive development in that Tikuferanji will be able to reach out to more people.“At TVM we have restricted our productions because we pay but with TV Luntha it will be free and we will be able to give them more material” said Usi. Father Andrew Kaufa of TV Luntha who signed the contract on behalf of his TV station said this was another opportunity for more people to watch the soap. “As a TV station we thought it wise to enter into partnership with ADRA to start showing Tikuferanji as part of sensitizing people about the HIV/AIDS PANDEMIC” said Kaufa. He said as a TV station, they acknowledge the fact that HIV/AIDS was killing more people, a development that prompted them to join in the fight. “We are a faith – based TV station which aims at evangelizing but we also have a duty to assist government in various campaigns” he said. Kaufa said they also decided to beam Tikuferanji because it is entertaining and educative. Under the agreement, ADRA will be giving the Tikuferanji productions to TV Luntha just like it does with TVM. Kaufa said TV Luntha will be beaming the soap for free and that other productions not watched on TVM will be included,” he said. He said despite being a religious TV, the content will not be tampered with. “We will have it twice a week starting Saturday from 6:30pm and Wednesday also from 6:30pm,” said Kaufa. TV Luntha which is owned by Montfort Missionaries was opened on 27^th May 2007.

The Nation journalist Kondwani Kamiyala writes:

“Balaka based Luntha Television on Wednesday entered into a pact with ADRA where the station will air the Tikuferanji soap, which is also aired on Television Malawi. Luntha Deputy Director Father Andrew Kaufa said beaming the soap, which tackles the multi- pronged aspects of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, is within their line of entertaining, educating and informing Malawians. “As soap, Tikuferanji is entertaining as well as educative. It is a powerful means of educating people. These are types of programmes our viewers enjoy. This is our contribution to society,” said Kaufa. Tikuferanji Director Michael Usi said viewers would watch the first episodes of the soap, which was first aired seven years ago. “We are glad to work with Luntha who will air the programme for free. Lovers of the programme will enjoy because we will beam from the very first episodes of the soap” said Usi. According to Usi, this is a new dimension in the Tikuferanji success story: “Tikuferanji has been a success. Several countries have been coming to us on how we do it. Recently I was helping the Burundians set up a programme for children on reconciliation. Some people from Tanzania and Papua New Guinea were here to learn from us.” Established in 2007, Luntha Television covers parts of the Southern Region, including Mulanje, Chiradzulu, Chikwawa, Blantyre, Zomba, Machinga, Mangochi, Ntcheu, Salima and Dedza.”

ADRA Malawi - DANIDA funded Projects

Tikuferanji – the sky rocket for change

By their nature wars are terrifying and can be a scaring lot: lives are lost, survivors get displaced, property gets damaged and so is infrastructure the aftermath can be costly…

Whereas military wars would disperse and displace people ADRA MALAWI’s media combat converges and places them together for some behavioral change mitigation.

Unlike with war-zones the ADRA battle-field is civilian – dramatists, comedians or folk-tellers spearheading behavioral change through drama.

Discussing such issues like promiscuity, voluntary blood testing even encouraging unmarried couples to have their blood tested before wedlock sometimes sound misplaced as many regard these as private issues.

However, this is a fight ADRA MALAWI has braved – changing the world-view.

And when it recently took its Tikuferanji drama series to two of the country’s central province districts of Ntchisi and Salima not only was the turn-out encouraging but so was the audiences’ reaction.

With Salima district rated as one with the highest HIV-Aids prevalence areas the media content in the drama series was befitting as the sequel thoroughly addressed the three issues to the audiences’ acceptance.

Senior village headwoman Che Nyama hailed the organisation for the video shows saying such initiative complemented very well efforts she was fostering in her area for her subordinates to go for VCT.

“Am particularly happy for such video shows as an intervention measure you could see for yourself the way those dramatists articulated issues and how the audience responded.

“Drama and video drama in particular can be good weaponry to fighting people’s risky behaviors,” said the senior chief.

Echoing the senior chief Ntchisi district youth officer Jesse Mwansambo hailed the video show-initiative as an effective tool of communicating to masses especially in the very remotest areas where rurals do not have access to such forms of media.

ADRA MALAWI regularly conducts video shows in remote areas which have limited access to television either due to inaccessibility of electricity or lack of the gadget itself.

Author: Tamanda Matebule

Review of LEFAM Project

The Danish funded project Let’s fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi (LEFAM) has now been running for just over 2 years and it was time for a mid-term review to follow-up on the progress of the implementation and to assess whether any changes should be made in the strategies used to achieve our set goals.

A team of 4 consultants were hired to carry out the review and the team included 1 Ugandan, 2 Danes and 1 Malawian and was carried out over a 2 week period in the month of April 2009. Key members of the project staff and representatives from ADRA Denmark also participated in the review. The review was conducted in 3 of the 5 implementation areas and included Mchinji, Machinga and Chiradzula Districts.

Many different stakeholders participated in focus group discussions during the 2 weeks including government officials from the districts, religious and traditional leaders, members of the targeted communities involved in the project activities like youth groups and farmer groups, project staff and leaders from ADRA Malawi administration.

The main focus of the project is to strengthen the communities through activities of HIV prevention and awareness, mitigation of the impact of HIV/AIDS and finally creating awareness and action on human right issues. The overall strategy is capacity building of both individuals and the communities at large in order for them to be able to act on their problems and create social change in their communities. One of the main methodologies is to use dialogue among individuals and groups to engage them in taking action on improving the situation of the communities.

Thus the review was aimed at assessing whether the project has been able to take its beneficiaries and targeted communities beyond mere awareness into creating social change, e.g. understood as people taking action into changing social norms, advocating for own rights and holding leaders accountable for their responsibilities.

Some of the preliminary findings from the review are that significant positive changes and improvement in health and social life have been made in the project sites and the project has managed to open up spaces for dialogue and discussions in the communities about issues like stigmatisation of HIV positive people and cultural and social norms. The youth has been engaged in rising awareness on HIV/AIDS in their communities and people living with HIV/AIDS have benefitted much from Home Based Care. One of the activities with the greatest success is gathering people in farmer clubs and improving their knowledge on farming methods which has improved the produce of the households and thus the resilience of people in their everyday lives. An area which on the other hand has faced some difficulties is awareness on rights and creating an environment where people know how to act on the problematic issues.

Now, after the review, what remains for the last months of the project is to implement the remaining activities according to the recommendations given by the review team and to develop an exit strategy in order to try to ensure that the communities will continue with their activities when the project staff no longer is there to supervise the activities.

Author: Anja Larsen - ADRA Denmark

ADRA Radio Program Wins Prestigious Media Award in Malawi

Silver Spring, Maryland--ADRA Malawi recently received the "Radio Play of the Year" award during the 2008 Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) Entertainers of the Year Awards, held last December in the city of Blantyre, for a radio program that promotes HIV/AIDS prevention, personal responsibility and healthy family relations among Malawians.

The ADRA radio program, titled Tikuferanji, or "Why are we dying?" in the national Chichewa language, appears on Television Malawi and also airs on state-run MBC Radio, promoting HIV/AIDS education as an important tool to prevent the spread of the disease through responsible and safer sexual behavior.

"Receiving this award is a great recognition of ADRA Malawi’s work in development and communication," said Emanuel da Costa, country director for ADRA Malawi. "The Malawi Broadcasting Corporation Awards are the most prestigious media awards in Malawi."
Michael Usi, programs director for ADRA Malawi, was also honored with the "Actor of the Year" award.

Through Tikuferanji, ADRA is addressing important HIV/AIDS-related issues, including the importance of blood testing, condom use, marital and family relations, faithfulness, the impact of traditional sexual practices, child labor, personal responsibility, empowerment, and human rights. The program, at times recorded in local villages, reflects the personal experiences of people who have been affected by issues similar to the ones discussed in the plays, which provide a sense of reality to the drama, said Usi.

In addition to this most recent award, Tikuferanji was also voted the best advocacy program in Malawi on radio and television. It received the Best Achiever Award in 2007, and is one of the most popular television shows on Television Malawi. According to various evaluations and media reports, the program is making a positive change on sexual practices in Malawi.

ADRA Malawi also works with other civil organizations, such as the National Initiative for Civic Education, the Civil Liberties Committee, the Malawi Human Rights Commission, and the Human Rights Consultative Council, educating vulnerable groups through focus group discussions, community dialogue sessions, and the dissemination of important educational materials. The topics raised at these meetings create the foundation for Tikuferanji’s plays.

ADRA Malawi is combating the spread of the pandemic through other educational programs and video productions, such as Lets Talk, a show that discusses the issues in ways that viewers and listeners can relate to. ADRA also partners with other organizations to address HIV/AIDS related issues, organizing events, dramas, songs, and traditional dances. ADRA is working to provide affected communities access to higher quality foods, better health care, and livelihood training initiatives that improve their standard of living.

The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) reports that an estimated 900,000 people, or 12 percent of the population, live with HIV in this landlocked southeastern African nation, which ranks 164 out of 177 countries listed in the 2007/2008 Human Development Index. AIDS has already left more than half a million orphans in Malawi, one of the highest numbers by country in the world. HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Malawi’s adults, and has affected all sectors of society, destroying livelihoods and slowing economic growth.

ADRA Malawi is also actively implementing a three-year project called Training of Trainers (TOT), an international initiative that prepares selected members of a community as HIV/AIDS counselors. By the end of the three-year project, ADRA expects to provide counseling for 24,000 people in Malawi alone.

Since 1982, ADRA Malawi has been working in the areas of disaster relief, water and sanitation, HIV and AIDS, family planning, agriculture, primary health, basic education, and empowerment of vulnerable groups, such as women and children.

ADRA is a non-governmental organization present in 125 countries providing sustainable community development and disaster relief without regard to political or religious association, age, gender, race or ethnicity.

Additional information about ADRA can be found at http://www.adra.org/.

Author: Nadia McGill
Media Contact: John Torres
Senior Public Relations Manager
ADRA International
12501 Old Columbia Pike
Silver Spring, MD 20904
Phone: 301.680.6357
E-mail: Media.Inquiries@adra.org

ADRA Malawi receives prestigious Media Award

After two years breack the MBC Enterteiners of the Years Awards returned on Friday 26 December. The MBC (Malawi Broadcasting Coorporation) Awards have a long history that goes back to 1970, as mentioned in the Newspaper “The Sunday Times”, and are the most prestigious Media Award in Malawi.

There are 20 categories that cover sports, Music, Drama, Radio, Presenters, Newspaper and Cartoon. Each category has three nominnees.

ADRA Malawi’s Tikuferanji radio program was nominated and won the category for “Radio Play of the Year”. Michael Usi writes: “Tikuferanji means why are we dying? The question attempts to provoke people to start thinking seriously about the factors that lead them into irresponsible sexual behaviors. The program is broadcast on both Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi. The program has been on radio for almost twelve years and on TV for about seven years. The initial purpose for the program was to deal with issues of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. The program has now taken on board other issues that affect the respect of human rights; HIV/AIDS being a cross cutting issue.”

ADRA’s Malawi Programs Director, Michael Usi, also won the Award for Actor of the Year.

Author: Emanuel da Costa

Accurate information reduces HIV incidences

The battle against HIV/AIDS and its devastating impact is an increasing concern to ADRA Malawi. As a social issue HIV/AIDS has in so many ways retarded development at individual, family, community as well as national level. While on the other hand, young people are among the most affected by the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 

Good communication and accurate information on HIV/AIDS can allow young people and the nation as a whole to revise the myths, cultural practices and stigmas and discrimination that accelerate transmission in order to prevent the virus from further spread.

One of the ideal tools that ADRA Malawi has used is the media oriented programs.

These programs, which include radio talk shows, Lets Talk, and drama series, Tikuferanji (radio and television) and community video shows, have enhanced the dissemination of accurate and relevant information on HIV/AIDS. 

The programs promote access to comprehensive and reliable information in quest of behavioral changes with the special emphasis on life changing strategies.

These media program, Lets Talk and Tikuferanji? (which literally means why are we dying?) have offered a way for Malawians to find facts resulting in  eradication the myths and cultural practices that have far been contributing to the spread of the virus and reducing stigma and discrimination at national level.

Since these programs are aired to the whole nation, ADRA has to be sure that the messages are accurate and depict issues related to Malawi so that they change the nation for the better.

Having the programs also means that access to information on issues dwelling on HIV/AIDS, human rights, food security and other relevant issues is possible and easy.

For many years the radio and print media have been to major sources of information. However, since ADRA started the drama series on Television, it has proven that TV is also very powerful because of its visual aspect.

Tikuferanji TV program is one of the most watched programs on Television Malawi, so much that when it is not beamed there is always public outcry for the program.

Without a doubt the media oriented programs have changed the lives of so many people and have delivered accurate and important information to the nation.

Evidence exists that Communities have changed the way they view issues because of the information that they heard from ADRA Malawi media programs.

Authors: Ruth Simika/ Chikondi Madikiza-Madumuse

Official hand over of Activity Handbook, Mpemba

Let’s Fight HIV/AIDS in Malawi project partnered with three Danish master students to produce an Activity Handbook for Youth Clubs for ADRA Malawi in 2007/2008, using the Youth Club Mpemba as an example for the communication for social change strategy. Friday the 25.th of July 2008 ADRA staff was proud officially to hand over the Handbook to the Mpemba Youth Club.
The Mpemba Youth Club is under Mpemba Chiyambi CBO. The Mpemba Chiyambi CBO was informed of the official hand over of the Activity Handbook and a member of the committee received a copy after the Danish students left. The members of Mpemba Youth Club were very happy to have been taught the strategy as well as receiving the final copy of the Activity Handbook full of pictures and memories.

The Activity Handbook made by Mette Grøndal Hansen, Lise Grauenkær Jensen and Stine Kromann-Larsen can be used in Youth Clubs, communities, groups etc. wanting to use the communication for social change strategy. The Activity Handbook gives a pedagogical step-by-step approach to the strategy, e.g. vision identification, how to take action and how to monitor and evaluate, while giving many examples from the Mpemba Youth club and their specific activities.

If you have further questions or would like to require a copy (free of charge if for teaching purposes), please contact adra@adra.dk.

Author: Sidsel Faurholt

Media interview

The newly arrived ADRA Malawi Country Director, Emanuel da Costa, was recently interviewed by the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and the Newspaper “The Nation”. From the several questions the highlight was on the plans of the new administration.

“ … ADRA Malawi exists to serve. As a faith based organization we wish not only to serve but to reflect the character of God through our work … this will only be achieved by providing high standard professional and caring services, with this in mind the current administration intends to:

Strengthen the organization, by: revising the organizational structure for better use of existing resources, and higher efficiency; increasing the transparency and upgrading the finance and monitoring and evaluation departments; reducing the weight in the administration; increasing opportunities for employees professional development.

Increase assistance provided, by: strengthening the relations with current partners and donors; diversify current donor base; offer opportunities for private donors in Malawi to be involved...”

Revised by: Aninde Migogo

Video Shows

Video shows have proven to be a powerful tool for opening up discussions and debate among audiences on a wide range of issues surrounding HIV/AIDS, human rights, gender based violence, food security, orphan care and others in society as it allows viewers to empathize and associate with characters.

They (Video shows) have also proved to be one of the best tools for advocacy and information dissemination.

ADRA Malawi through Lets Fight AIDS in Malawi (LEFAM) Project embarked on community video shows as one way of advocacy, information dissemination and educating the rural masses.

Two methods were deployed in this exercise; the first one the videos were shown to the community at large and the approach involved targeted groups alone e.g. the youth, women, clergy or any other groups.

CHOOSING VIDEOS
There are different types of videos that are used during the shows. As indicated in the introduction some have a targeted audience while others are for the general public.

A video is always chosen depending on what message, key issues, one would want to channel.

Choosing a video also depends on the location where the video will be shown. For instance there are some places in the country where Indian hemp is grown and many youths find themselves in a trap because the environment they are in: they find themselves indulging in drug abuse. This being the case, the film that would be shown at this particular location might sensitize communities on drug abuse and its impact to the community as well as individuals.

Furthermore, when it comes to the rural setting, videos which depict life in the rural setting are selected and beamed.

However, even in the urban areas people are able to relate with rural issues because most Malawians have their roots in the rural areas. The village is still seen as home for many people.

Having videos that appeal to both the rural and urban people helps them to relate to the issues happening in the films and draw lessons from them.

It has been observed that using videos as advocacy and information dissemination helps to change lives in a way that video appeals to the eye, hence, most people remember what they have seen and easily follow events. The visual aids also help them relate to the feelings of the people.

Even where there are language barriers, the visuals in the films help people to understand the unfolding of events.

It has been proved that videos indeed produce positive results when used. From the various video shows that ADRA Malawi has conducted, reactions from the viewers have shown that they easily follow the storyline and they are able to move with the emotions of the individuals in the film. Viewers are able to detect danger and this reveals how much they know about a particular subject. Viewers reactions is a tool that help to determine what they know, what they don’t know and what they feel is the best decision the character should have taken. In so doing communities reveal their level of knowledge about a particular subject.

Films are also one of the best tools to stir discussion in the community. Sometimes discussions are difficult to start but with videos there is always a starting point and one is sure that there will be concentration from the audience and lessons will also be drawn from the video.

Author: Chikondi Mamangina Madikiza-Madumuse

Why are we dying? - Tikuferanji

Introduction:
Tikuferanji means why are we dying? The question attempts to provoke people to start thinking seriously about the factors that lead them into irresponsible sexual behaviours. The program is broadcast on both Malawi Broadcasting Corporation and Television Malawi. The program has been on radio for almost twelve years and on TV for about seven years. The initial purpose for the program was to deal with issues of HIV/AIDS in Malawi. The program has now taken on board other issues that affect the respect of human rights; HIV/AIDS being a cross cutting issue.

Michael Usi - Actor and Programs Director for ADRA Malawi

Mode of Communication:
The Malawi society has many ways of communicating information. Notable ones are: Songs, counselling, preaching, dialogue, group discussions/meetings, proverbs, satirical talks. Drama is popular among some tribes like the Lomwe in the Southern Region of Malawi. ADRA Malawi chose drama as the main means for communication since it is most liked by almost all the tribes in Malawi. The influence of foreign films has promoted the use and appreciation of the power of drama in communication. The plays are acted out by professional actors, some who are working with ADRA Malawi and others from outside ADRA.

Advocacy Issues:
ADRA Malawi works in partnership with other civil society organizations in the fight against HIV/AIDS as well as in the promotion of human rights. The issues are sourced through meetings, focus group discussion with communities, community dialogue sessions and IEC materials.

The issues raised are then acted out in the radio and TV plays. Some of the issues that have been acted out include: extra marital affairs, family life and AIDS, HIV/AIDS test before marriage, the impact of sexual rituals on the esteem of women as well as HIV/AIDS, child labour, condom use, governance and human rights. The feedback received has either necessitated the production of follow up plays or changing focus. The program is in the hands of the Malawian people; ADRA simply coordinates and produces the plays. Sometimes the program is recorded in the villages with the actual people that have been affected by the issues in question. This approach brings reality to the nature of issues being discussed. The emotions and articulation of the challenges in the communities has sometimes provoked policy makers to include some of the suggestions in the relevant policy papers. An example is when there was a program about the relationship between sexual rituals and HIV/AIDS. However, it must be mentioned that ADRA partners with other players in this field to consolidate the impact of the program. The civil society is using this program to promote issues of advocacy and empower the vulnerable to stand for their rights.

Evaluations:
Formal and informal evaluations have been conducted to asses the impact of the program. The results have been encouraging. Tikuferanji has been voted the best advocacy program in Malawi on radio and TV. In 2007, it received The Best Achiever Award

The direct impact though on the change of people’s sexual behaviour is rather difficult to precisely measure. Evaluations and media reports have indicated that the program is effectively contributing to the way people behave sexually.

Author: Michael Usi