Mexican radio station and Egyptian journalist win UNESCO-IPDC Prize for Rural Communication

March 23rd, 2010 - 3:29 am ICT by BNO News  

PARIS (BNO NEWS) — The Mexican community radio station “La voz de los campesinos” and the Egyptian journalist Amr Mamdou Ellisy will receive the UNESCO-IPDC Prize for Rural Communication, the UNESCO said on Monday.

The two laureates will share the US $20,000 prize, which recognizes meritorious and innovative effort to improve communication for rural communities in developing countries.

The Veracruz, Mexico-based radio station “La voz de los campesinos (The Voice of the Peasants)” was founded 32 years ago, and was the first indigenous community radio in Mexico.

The station promotes interactive radio communication with communities, encouraging them to share their history, customs and music, and helps reinforce the collective rights of the indigenous populations of Veracruz. Programmes are transmitted in three local languages in addition to Spanish.

Transmission covers 400 communities, approximately 100,000 people. “La voz de los campesinos” is part of the Latin American Association of Radio Education and the World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters.

Amr Mamdouh Ellissy is Editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper “ElKhamis” and Editor and Presenter of both the documentary programme “Ekhterak” on Egyptian State Television and Dream TV’s weekly social programme “Wahed Men El-Nas” (“One from the Public”) , which informs rural populations on issues concerning them, particularly education and health.

Mr. Ellissy regularly contacts governmental authorities and civil society organizations seeking joint solutions to rural social problems. He also raises funds and conducts public campaigns through his television programmes to help rural communities.

The award ceremony will take place on Wednesday 24 March at 5 p.m. at UNESCO Headquarters.

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