Coming Together
A series of programmes about fighting poverty and making improvements to our lives
Coming Together is produced by OLSET, the Open Learning Systems Education Trust
in collaboration with the Commonwealth of Learning.
This series is designed for broadcast by local and community radio stations or it may be heard and downloaded from the web. It has been produced by OLSET and CoL for use anywhere that people want to take action to help fight poverty and improve their lives, and in particular sub-Saharan Africa and Asia.
We'll be hearing about many topics, for example - how to improve soil fertility and grow organic food, how to know as much as the middle man does when we come to market our goods, how to raise cash through micro-credit schemes, how to get the most out of information and computer technologies and how working in groups makes a lot of good sense.
Each programme follows this typical structure:
- First, we find out about the issue, for example forming groups or setting up a small business, from experts and practitioners.
- Then - using the magic of radio - we visit people who are really putting these concepts into practice.
- In the last part we seek more information and practical advice on how the approach can work and what ideas we can take away from it.
The programmes are available in long format (approx 15-17 minutes) or as three shorter segments (approx 5-7 minutes) to give flexibility to broadcasters. They are all copyright free, including the music, and can be adapted to suit the listeners of radio stations. For example you might like to invite listeners to contribute opinions and ideas on each topic, or have a studio discussion on the theme in question from a local perspective. You are welcome to contact us for suggestions. We also recommend that you provide additional information on local resources for listeners wanting to follow up on each topic.
Versions without music and complete transcripts can be provided if you need to translate the presentation into a local language.
As this is a pilot project, we will be very pleased to hear your feedback.
SUMMARY OF EACH PROGRAMME
For Transcripts, please provide COL with copies of any translations you make so we can make this available to others.
Forming Groups
This programme is an introduction to the many benefits of forming groups. James Onyango, who works in health care and poverty alleviation in Kenya, explains how groups get going and how they can help solve problems. We visit a successful women's group looking after orphans in Uganda and learn the stages in setting up a group.
Bubbling Biogas
A programme about a low-cost and sustainable technology now in use in many countries around the world. With help from Namiz Musafer of the Intermediate Technology Development Group in Sri Lanka, we find out how urine and dung can be utilised on a to create energy for cooking and much much more. As we walk around a special training farm in Rwanda we learn what benefits biogas might bring - just listen to it bubbling!
Using Water Wisely
A programme about rainwater harvesting, and making every drop count! Many of us face a shortage of water most of the time with periods of sudden and destructive flooding. Some people are tackling these life-threatening problems for themselves - find out about channelling floodwater in Tanzania and a drip irrigation system in South Africa and other examples of ways that we can capture and control that valuable resource - water.
Going Organic
This programme is about the need for food security and using organic fertilisers. Soil scientist Saminu Ibrahim and agricultural economist Irene Tambula explain the value and use of organic materials to enrich soils, increase productivity and save money. We visit an organic farm project in Rwanda which is developing useful and surprising ideas for us all - whether we grow food on a farm or just outside the door.
Energy from the Sun
This programme looks at ways that solar technology can save money, resources and the environment. Kenyan ICT specialist Kennedy Onyango explains how adapted solar panels now power the cell phones and radios which have transformed the economic lives of Lake Shore communities. In South Africa we learn about solar ovens and visit a project where they are cooking using the power of the sun. Should we all consider a "sunny" solution?
Setting up a Small Business
This programme is about setting up a small scale enterprise - the way many people have managed to fight poverty. Scientist and lecturer Saminu Ibrahim acts as our guide as we hear inspiring examples of families or groups who have organised small money-raising activities. We learn about factors such as public policy and micro-finance that can make the difference and visit a brick making project in South Africa to get advice on one way to start and how to develop.
PRODUCTION TEAM DETAILS
| Co-ordinator for OLSET: |
Farhana Chand |
| Project manager at COL: |
Paul West and Krishna Alluri |
| Project consultants: |
Kennedy Onyango, Saminu Ibrahim, James Onyango and Frances Cox (writer/producer) |
| South Africa field recordings: |
Pule Phalatse |
| Other recordings: |
Our thanks to Kazimierz Janowski, Ruth Evans, Warrill Grindrod and Namiz Musafer. |
| Presentation: |
Vineeta Dwevidi and Rupa Jha |
| Music: |
"Coming Together" theme music composed and recorded by Lee Sparey at The Grooveyard |
