A three-day media workshop sponsored by the East African Community (EAC)-United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) is currently underway in Arusha, Tanzania.
The workshop for community radio journalists is organised by the EAC Community Media Network (EACOMNET), and has attracted 35 participants from the five EAC Partner States of Burundi, Kenya, Rwanda, Tanzania and Uganda.
Addressing participants on the opening day Ms. Zulmira Rodrigues, the UNESCO Representative to Tanzania said her organization would support community media initiatives in the EAC region.
She noted that the UNESCO-supported community radios are the main source of wide-ranging information for rural, marginalized and indigenous communities.
“UNESCO through its support has further significantly contributed to ensuring quality broadcasting, ethical programming and inclusive content to include all groups – men, women, the youth, persons living with disabilities and persons living with albinism – to actively participate in key processes for democracy, peace and development,” said Ms. Rodrigues.
Officially opening the workshop, the EAC Deputy Secretary in charge of Finance and Administration Mr Liberat Mfumukeko, said the Community attaches great importance to the role of the media promoting awareness in the EAC integration.
“We have directed the Corporate Communications and Public Affairs Department to come up with a strategy to involve community radio stations in the Partner States in our outreach and advocacy programmes in the next Financial Year. With this strategy in place, we shall work and engage with you more closely,” said the Deputy Secretary General.
The workshop is being facilitated by community media experts from the Sarojini Naidu School of Arts and Communication, University of Hyderabad, India, led by the UNESCO Chair on Community, Professor Vinod Pavarala, assisted by Prof. Vasuki Belavadi and Dr Kanchan K. Malik.
