Radio

About CHEMS

Radio

Production Services & Training

Video

Outreach/Advocacy

Srey Sopheak (left) and Khim Khun Neary (right) are CHEMS radio presenters. They host the programs Monday to Friday.

CHEMS has eight special letterboxes throughout Cambodia so young people can post sensitive questions for us to answer on-air.

Young people are not only listeners, but they also help to produce, write and facilitate our programs.

CHEMS radio producers help answer calls during the live broadcast. This enables listeners to have their sensitive questions answered on-air.

C A M B O D I A b H E A L T H B E D U C A T I O N B M E D I A B S E R V I C E

News & Events

Employment

Resources

Support

Links

Contact Us

RADIO
Radio is considered the most accessible, effective and efficient media in Cambodia, with the potential to reach around 80 percent of the population. A key feature of CHEMS activities is the live one-hour radio show, "Especially for You, Young People" broadcast five days per week through two major radio stations. The program is widely followed by urban and rural audiences across the country. In a friendly, informal format the daily radio program presents health-related topics followed by discussion with listeners who wish to share experiences, ideas or questions, either by phone-in or by sending letters. On-air counsellors answer their questions on sensitive social, physical and sexual issues. The 15 minute "Lotus on a Muddy Lake" soap opera depicts the interconnected lives of young people in rural and city setting, who face a range of social and health experiences and dilemmas. The program is not only entertaining but also provides sensitive messages on reproductive health and social topics, otherwise considered taboo to discuss with parents and teachers. In addition, young people who have been trained in media skills produce mini-dramas, commentary pieces and songs which are included in the program. The radio show is monitored by youth focus groups that regularly provide feedback and suggestions. Due to this feedback, the Friday program is now dedicated entirely to exploring HIV/AIDS issues. Supplementing the radio show is a twice monthly magazine column, published in a popular youth culture magazine, covering the latest health topics being broadcast.
On Air The radio program is broadcasted live on Monday and Tuesday, from 11h30am to 12h30pm on FM 95 MHz, and Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 11h00am to 12h00noon on FM 103 MHz. In Battambang Province, CHEMS broadcast on Wednesday and Thursday at 11h00am to 12h00noon on radio station FM91.
Radio Program The one-hour "Especially for You, Young People" radio program includes: The Soap Opera "Lotus on Muddy Lake" "Lotus on Muddy Lake" aims to dramatically mimic the challenges and successes that occur in the daily lives of remote and rural youth in Cambodia. One episode of the 15-minute radio soap opera "Lotus on a Muddy Lake" is played per show, incorporating messages about sexual reproductive health and other general social and health issues important to Cambodian youth. Through extensive, countrywide audience research, the writers shape key messages into creative story outlines to reflect the issues and concerns of young people. Based in two fictional rural and remote settings, the soap opera caters to Cambodian's ardent love of a good story. The soap follows the fictional lives of a young woman, named Pisey, who moves to the city after discovering she is pregnant. Her boyfriend, Va, fled his rural home to find work in the city but ends up becoming a begger and a thief. There is also a young girl who is diagnosed with HIV, a rural community health worker and her husband, amongst others. With over 300 episodes already aired, it is no wonder that listeners have become emotionally attached to the characters in the soap opera. Something New "Something New" is a segment of the radio program where interesting news and articles are discussed related to sexual and reproductive health. Topics of interest are discussed on-air, from arranged marriages to syphilis. Vox Pop Vox pop is a collection of young people's opinions, understandings and attitudes from various locations across Cambodia. Young people are asked questions about key topics and these are edited to give a snap-shot of young attitudes and beliefs. Almost 3,000 voices of young people have been broadcasted. Counsellors / Guests Counsellors and/or guests are invited to the live show to give their expert opinion and advice. The list of special guests include monks, young and older people, doctors, famous people and civil servants. Phone-in The phone-in enables listeners to call the radio station during the live broadcast to ask a question or discuss a personal problem related to their sexual or reproductive health. If the radio team are unable to answer on the spot, the information is provided on the following broadcast day. On some occasions, the specialist counsellor in the studio answers the questions, or the presenters/radio producer. Their tone is informal and supportive to audiences especially young people. Listen to a Call-in (MP3 - 4.3mb) "Do you know?" series / Mini-dramas / Radio Spots "Do you know?" series, mini-dramas, and radio spots give a better understanding of the issues addressed in each show and give the program variety in content and additional innovative ways for CHEMS to deliver important health messages. Resolving Letters Many young people send letters to the program concerning personal problems. This is especially useful for people who cannot afford phones, or who are too shy to speak on-air. During the one-hour radio program letters are read-out and answers are given. The letters are also featured in a popular magazine column. CHEMS posts 14 letter boxes in eight provinces. Over 2,500 letters have been received. Media Output Young people trained in media skills by our Outreach Department have subsequently produced radio pieces related to real problems in their community. To date, the young people have produced two mini dramas, one story and 35 poems. Battambang Radio In 2005 CHEMS expanded with the opening of a regional office in Battambang, where a local version of the Radio program, Especially for You, Young People is produced. Youth presenters, Channa and Ratha present a lively and entertaining program broadcast on Wednesday and Thursday at 11h00pm to 12h00noon on radio station FM91, focusing on pertinant issues for Battambang youth. Lotus on Muddy Lake soap opera is also broadcast during the program. Media Campaigns CHEMS has produced annual media campaigns focusing on youth reproductive health rights, using radio and video spots, songs, karaoke and comic books. The media campaigns receive extensive coverage on domestic television and radio, with CDs, VCDs and DVDs freely distributed to people in city and rural areas. Listen to a song from our third Media Campaign (MP3 - 4mb) Listen to a radio spot (MP3 - 1.3mb)

© CHEMS 2007 xxxxxxchems@online.com.khxx