Deutsche Welle to Launch Educational Radio Project in Afghanistan

Later this year, Deutsche Welle will launch an extensive educational radio program in Pashto and Dari for a younger target audience in Afghanistan. The interactive educational project “Learning by Ear for Afghanistan” will focus on topics like education, democratization and the country's rebuilding process. Erik Bettermann, Director General of Germany’s international broadcaster, announced the new development at the closing ceremony of the Deutsche Welle Global Media Forum in Bonn. "We are building on the extremely positive experience we have had with this innovative concept since 2008 in Africa," he said. "The new series will help convey important educational content in an entertaining and informative way." Deutsche Welle will transmit the distance learning program by radio – the most important medium in Afghanistan – as well as having content available on the Internet. The Director General went on to say that the project is relevant to German foreign and development policies and would be funded by the German Federal Foreign Office. Bettermann said the project should "support the measures involved in the international reconstruction process in Afghanistan and contribute to the acceptance of a modern, democratic society." He added that first and foremost, it will address a young target audience in Afghanistan, as they form the majority of the Afghan society. "Learning by Ear for Afghanistan" consists of entertaining and informative radio modules. In the area of political education, it will cover subjects like democracy, human rights, civil society and good governance.In the modules "Women and Girls" and "Women at Work" the series will take up the issues of the prevailing deficiencies and prejudices. In the area of "Health", the project will cover elementary knowledge in the areas of hygiene, dealing with refuse, healthcare and family planning. Another module will be devoted to the many drug problems in Afghanistan, the economic consequences of the illegal drug trade, drug abuse and alternatives to producing and trading in opium.Bettermann said that Deutsche Welle will be working with Afghani authors on the production of "Learning by Ear for Afghanistan". As part of the project, they will be trained by the Deutsche Welle Akademie. Individual modules will be produced in Afghanistan with Afghani radio partners. This six-month production period will allow for the conveyance of the corresponding know-how. Listener reactions and questions will be integrated in the series in its further development. Deutsche Welle will broadcast "Learning by Ear for Afghanistan" via shortwave, satellite, FM in Kabul and partner stations in the various provinces of Afghanistan. Schools will also be able to access the texts and accompanying material and further information can be supplemented at any time. In addition, "Learning by Ear for Afghanistan" will be made available on CD. June 5, 2009

(Press Release)