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Project Title : Building Bridges : Communication For All Empowerment Nepal

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Nepal is going through an important period of democracy building with the Constitution making-process. Until at least May 2010 Nepalese Constituent Assembly (CA) will guide the process of drafting a new constitution, which, unlike anything in Nepal’s past, will be a federal one. Nepal has no experience in this kind of administration structure, having been a centralized monarchy characterized by an extremely weak and inefficient state for many years. Thus, it is crucial to have a well-informed population with access to accurate and independent information from diverse sources, with an understanding of what decision-making processes are happening around it, and most importantly with a voice. There are hundreds of CLCs around the country however only few operative and self sufficient CMCs. A proper network among these centres, starting from fewer districts, could become a fundamental awareness and information channel for communities.
Although the quality and diversity of media are increasing in more populated areas, this is not true in remote areas. There, the often illiterate population has to receive information largely from local radio. However, not enough quality information is available. CMCs practitioners have not received professional training, some are not well informed concerning current political, economic and social issues and they are often poorly informed about technical aspects of managing CMCs. Same goes for Community Learning Centres where lack of material, trainings and information-oriented technologies has often made these centres inoperative. Yet, community media centres (CMCs) and learning centres (CLCs) are important in the fight to support democracy and reduce poverty, particularly in isolated rural areas. Most of the times however, CMCs and CLCs are not aware of other community centres existing and operating in the same area. A network between such entities could strengthen their impact and role within communities. If these stations are to provide vital communications and learning services, fulfilling the challenge of fostering and developing a transition to democracy building, they must have the appropriate skills and resources and a solid network.
The project, which has the goal of strengthening communication capacities of community media and learning decentres primarily in rural areas, focuses on skills-building training for CMCs practitioners and CLCs members, and on increasing operating links among the two through programmes concerning current democracy-related issues. The joint CMC-CLC network will help communities sharing experiences between community multimedia and learning centres, and strategizing means for communication, information, awareness and participation. CLCs will be able to learn about how CMCs can be used creatively and CMCs
will learn how to link community media to existing learning centres. CLCs promote learning through grassroots facilities and activities, but often lack of media facilities and multimedia applications to support them. Establishing new and strengthening existing CMCs/CLCs will enable people to use tools - such as Community Radio, Community Television, and print Media in an effective way to disseminate information and empower the voices of marginalized communities.

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