Name of the project:

 Geographic Region

18 Community Radio stations are on air located in 16 different districts covering all 7 divisional geographic regions namely Rangpur, Rajshahi, Khulna, Barisal, Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet. The rate of literacy, culture, dialect, ritual norms, profession, and fashion of communication are varies from region to region. Considering all these issues into account, the project designed and been implementing to address the livelihood of the communities and seven regions as well.

Overview of the Project

Since the inception of the project implementation in September 2012, American English Radio Project (AERP) has been implementing for upgrading English language skills of the community radio listeners especially the rural youth and young women in Bangladesh. The project started as a pilot phase by using one community radio station namely “Radio Pollikontho” at Moulvibazar run by BRAC. In October 2013, the project was extended in other 4 additional radio stations. It was observed that the demand of English learning listeners were increasing rapidly and listeners wanted to get friendly environment at the radio stations. They visited the stations frequently and meet the program producers, presenters, facilitators and voice players to share their experiences. During the live broadcasting, they shared their reaction by sending SMS, email and made phone calls to the presenters and producers. Finally, the programs were replicated and continued through all 17 CR stations in 2015.

Partners

At present, AERP is implementing through all 17 community radio stations in different parts of Bangladesh. The stations are Community Radio Chilmari of Chilmari, Kurigram, Radio Sarabela of Gaibanda, Radio Borendra of Naogaon, Radio Mukti of Bogra, Radio Padma of Rajshahi, Radio Mohananda of Chaipai Nawabgonj, Radio Jhenuk of Jhenaidah, Radio Nalta of Satkhira, Radio Sundarban of Koyra, Khulna, Krishi Radio of Amtoli, Barguna, Lokobetar of Barguna, Radio Meghna of Char Fashion, Bhola, Radio Sagar Dwip of Hatia, Noakhali, Radio Naf of Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar, Radio Sagorgiri of Sitakund, Chittagong, Radio Boral of Rajshahi and Radio Bikrampur of Munshigonj.

Target Audience

The project aims to address the need of low intermediate level English Language learners (who have had a minimum of about a year of English study). Besides, radio episodes will specifically develop by targeting the secondary and higher level students of schools, madrashas and colleges; the drop-outs, members of listeners groups, English language teachers in local institutions, English language club members and other potential radio listeners, interested in English language learning.

Goal

Improving the capabilities of English language skills of the rural youth communities as well as the role of Listeners’ Clubs by using Community Radios in Bangladesh.

Objectives

• Strengthening the role of Listener’s Corner and club members to ensure the access in the global knowledge and information hubs by upgrading their English language skills and practice in their daily life.
• Building the capacity of the broadcasters and listeners for strengthening their role to learn English towards building their carrier better and by creating learning-friendly environment.
• Broadcast guided English language radio programs towards reducing the fear and English language phobia.
• Engage community radio staffs, veteran English teachers, listeners and consultants from home and abroad in content development, broadcasting, monitoring and evaluation of the program, further improvement, continuation and extension of the project in other areas.

Timeline

September 30, 2018 to September 29, 2019

Budge

USD 28,311

Activity

1. Orientation of Radio staffs on the project goal, objectives and activities.
2. Develop and Broadcast Radio episodes on English Language.
3. Training of Engaging English Language Teachers and Orient Radio Listeners Club (RLC) members
4. Develop and Publish Promotional
5. Keep American English Listeners’ Corner (AELC) ready to ensure service to the listeners.
6. Develop American English Radio Website (AERWeb) for English Language Listeners
7. Form network of Radio Listeners’ Clubs
8. Establish Forum for the Listeners and Local English Language Teachers
9. Campaign for promoting the radio programs.
10. Broadcast Radio Shorts featuring Success Stories
11. National level Knowledge Sharing Workshop

Outcome of the project

The level of English language skills of the rural youths (students, potential listeners and veteran teachers) will be improved. Expect an approximately 500,000 listeners will be benefitted from the project. There will be a certain numbers of proven English language learning materials be ready to replicate in other areas in the future.

Communication Strategy

Three-fold project approach constitutes of Engaging 1. Community radios, 2. English language teachers and 3. Radio listeners’ club members will be followed for smooth operation of the project.

Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/aerpbd/