by Suman Basnet, AMARC

[Editor's Note: This article was originally published on 21 August 2009 in the AMARC website. Suman Basnet is the coordinator of AMARC Asia-Pacific]

The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters, AMARC Asia Pacific has launched the 2nd training program on Community Radio Management and Advanced Radio Production Training for the Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA). The ten days long program began on the 17th of August 2009. Trainers Bianca Miglioretto, Isis International and Divya Wesley, Voices, India, are conducting the training for members of the SEWA community radio team at the SEWA Academy in Ahmadabad, India. SEWA received its community radio permit in June this year.

Participants will learn how to develop a democratic structure of the radio, programme schedule, code of conduct, including gender policy and editorial guidelines as well as the drafting of action plans. Included are sessions on rooting the radio in the community with focus on community participation in the broadcasts. Participants will also discuss issues related to financial sustainability and promotion of community radio station. The training program includes three days of advanced training on production techniques, with focus on radio jingle and radio drama production, including digital editing with FOSS software Audacity.

In addition to the training on setting up and running of a community radio station, a training of trainers program (TOT) will be organised for a select group of trainers from SEWA. It will cover topics ranging from Effective Learning Methods to Preparing and Conducting Radio Trainings.

The Community Radio Management and Advanced Radio Production Training program is part of AMARC's continued commitment towards supporting capacity development of its members as well as growth of the community broadcasting sector in India. The first training on technical radio production was conducted by AMARC for SEWA in February 2007 in Bangalore.

The current training will enable the participants to start operation of the SEWA community radio by the last week of September 2009. Both trainings are possible thanks to the financial support Swiss Development Cooperation (SDC)and SEWA itself and are organized in collaboration with Isis International and Voice, India. For more information, please contact: Suman Basnet, Regional Coordinator, AMARC Asia Pacific, Kathmandu, Nepal.

AMARC is an international non-governmental organization serving the community radio movement in over 110 countries, and advocating for the right to communicate at the international, national, local and neighbourhood levels. AMARC has an International Secretariat in Montreal. It has regional sections in Africa, Latin America and Asia Pacific and offices in Johannesburg, Buenos Aires, Brussels, and Kathmandu. For more information, please visit www.asiapacific.amarc.org