Project
Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience through Media: Empowering Communities in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)
The Charles Town Maroon community in Portland, Jamaica, is the beneficiary of the project "Strengthening Disaster Risk Reduction and Resilience through Media: Empowering Communities in Caribbean Small Island Developing States (SIDS)."
Jointly financed by the New Zealand High Commission Fund and UNESCO, the project is facilitated by the Media Institute of the Caribbean (MIC) in collaboration with the Charles Town Maroon Council and other partners. It aims to develop the digital, media, and information literacy skills of 20 community volunteers, empowering them to use community radio (RadioBox technology) to broadcast crucial disaster-related information and lead preparedness activities. The project promotes sustainability, strengthens connections with local and national disaster management authorities, and contributes to Global Media and Information Literacy Week by advancing MIL’s role in disaster preparedness and resilience through media-driven community empowerment.
Also, ensure the long-term success of the initiative, the project will develop a sustainability strategy, integrating the community radio into cultural tourism and other local activities, thereby supporting its continued operation and impact.
Project Objectives:
The project focuses on four main areas of intervention to bolster disaster resilience in the Charles Town community. First, it aims to establish a Community Media Volunteer Network by training up to 20 community volunteers to create and broadcast disaster preparedness content. Second, it will enhance community disaster preparedness by using radio and digital platforms to educate residents on disaster risk reduction and resilience, with a specific focus on local hazards. Third, the project seeks to strengthen linkages with national disaster preparedness authorities by establishing effective communication channels between Charles Town, national broadcasters, and emergency management agencies. Finally, to ensure the long-term success of the initiative, the project will develop a sustainability strategy, integrating the community radio into cultural tourism and other local activities, thereby supporting its continued operation and impact.
Sustainability and Scalability:
Volunteers will be trained to use radio-in-a-box equipment to create and disseminate disaster preparedness content to support community awareness, discussion and development of initiatives to develop locally relevant responses that enhance the community’s resilience to disasters. Additionally, partnerships with local disaster management agencies will ensure the continuous flow of information and resources. The scalable nature of the RadioBox technology also allows for expansion to neighboring communities, thereby increasing regional disaster resilience.
