Radio drama offers the potential to deliver critical information to those who need it most across vast geographic distances via compelling, entertaining programming. In Haiti, Oxfam and partners are developing a radio drama called TIM TIM to change and influence knowledge, attitudes and behaviours amongst its target communities.   

TIM TIM covers four main themes of Oxfam's programme in North Haiti and the risky practices associated with these issues, including: 

• the ongoing cholera epidemic
• lack of basic nutritional knowledge and hazardous practices amongst expecting and new mothers and their infants
• high rates of violence (including physical, sexual and economical) against women and girls
• deterioration and destruction of natural resources making the area one of the most exposed in the country

For the latest news and updates, see TIM TIM Haiti on Facebook.

Entertainment-Education

Entertainment-Education is the process of designing and implementing a media message to: increase knowledge about an issue; create favourable attitudes; and change behaviour. Miguel Sabido, a Mexican television producer, developed Entertainment-Education through different radio and television dramas around the world. The methodology is based on using storytelling and social science to bring about behavioural change.

TIM TIM employs this method to tackle critical health, social and environmental issues in Haiti. Its themes correspond with the ongoing projects of Oxfam Haiti and its local partners in the North and North East Departments of Haiti. These projects provide real life support and resources for communities to implement desired behaviour changes.

A critical aspect of the Entertainment-Education is the development of positive, negative and transitional characters that listeners can relate to. The transitional characters developed in TIM TIM address their personal dilemmas over the course of the show and experience changes in their beliefs or practices, acting as a source of inspiration and demonstrating socially desirable outcomes. The engaging storylines encourage conversation amongst community members, which further contributes to directed social change.

As well as the dramas, call-in shows are hosted to provide a forum for listeners to actively participate in discussions and share personal opinions on the story, topics, or characters. The call-in shows include interviews with experts and information about locally available resources. Listeners are encouraged to text or leave voicemails with their comments, which along with the call-in shows, are used as a tool for measuring change in social perceptions and behaviours.

Partners

PCI Media Impact is a not-for-profit organization founded in 1985. An international leader in Entertainment-Education, they leverage the combined power of broadcast media and the inspiration of storytelling to positively change communities around the world. PCI Media Impact has 30 years of experience working with partners, producing more than 5,000 episodes of 100 programs addressing some of the most pressing issues of our time. PCI partnered on TIM TIM with Oxfam, particularly supporting in the development of the initial documents, revising scripts and supporting on monitoring and evaluation exercises.

Bloom S.A. is the lead writer and producer of TIM TIM and headed by Ms. Christina Guerin in Port-au-Prince, who works in the entertainment and media sector in Haiti. Bloom specializes in multimedia project creation, production and management. Focusing primarily on social and educational projects, Bloom has become the base in the country for social development projects involving entertainment and dedicated to positive behaviour change in the country.

Related resources

• 'Soap Operas for Social Change to Prevent HIV/AIDS' A UNFPA training guide for journalists and media personnel (also available in French)
• 'Studying Entertainment-Education Effects: Going Beyond the Usual', by Dr. Arvind Singhal, originally presented at 'Best Practices on Promoting Gender Equality through Media Programs' in Vermont, November 17-19, 2005

Programme and storylines

Gender Based Violence

Oxfam's project, Protection of Women and Girls against Gender-Based Violence, focuses on prevention and offers support on issues of violence against women and sexual exploitation. The programme is designed to improve access to information mechanisms, strengthen the capacity of female leaders and increase the influence of women's organizations. The program ensures women and girls have access to reliable information, support and guidance related to violence and exploitation.

Through TIM TIM, we aim to improve recognition of women's rights. The storyline is designed to provide an understanding that emotional and physical abuses are immoral and illegal and warrant consequences. It is also meant to educate women on their rights to physical and moral integrity and raise awareness of local resources available to those who have encountered abuse.  

Nutrition

Oxfam and its local partner run a project in the North-East, an area with the highest percentage of chronic malnutrition in the country (32.9% where the national average is 23.4%). The project contributes to the improvement of health and nutrition for pregnant and lactating women as well as children under 10. The programme reinforces the Department of Health's work in the North-East to better coordinate and manage nutrition programmes, including nutrition education and community-based health and nutritional management for women and children.

Through TIM TIM, we aim to promote community consumption of local, natural products with nutritional value. It also encourages mothers to take their children to see medical professionals rather than using risky practices to treat their children.

Cholera

Haiti has been facing a cholera epidemic since 2010. In line with the Government's National Plan for the Elimination of Cholera, Oxfam's projects focuses on the critical needs, including coordination to increase local capacities, support to cholera treatment centres, improving epidemiological surveillance and access to quality water. Sensitization activities are also used to promote safe sanitation practices to reduce vulnerability.

The cholera storyline of TIM TIM draws attention to unsafe water consumption and inadequate food handling techniques and demonstrates the link between this and cholera. The intention is to provide an understanding of safe hygienic practices and encourage their implementation and to promote the importance of using appropriate sanitation facilities.

Disaster Risk Reduction

Haiti is vulnerable to hazards including cyclones, torrential rains and earthquakes. Significant efforts are required to strengthen national capacities to prepare for and recover from disasters, whilst reducing the exposure to hazardous risks. Increasingly, communities are at risk of flooding, landslides and mudslides due to deforestation and harmful logging practices. These natural disasters, coupled with poor infrastructure and inadequate capacity to enforce building regulations, pose great risks for many communities causing severe environmental degradation, and long-term effects for health and housing.

This theme of TIM TIM intends to alert communities of the negative consequences of over-logging and ultimately mitigate the poor management of forest resources. The intention is to change consumption patterns and encourage sustainable practices such as replanting of trees. Equally as important is the promotion of following safe building standards and regulations, and raising awareness about laws related to territorial management.