Senegal’s Radio administrative Council who met recently for one of its ordinary session, is unanimous that the IPDC funds granted to radio Penc Mi arrived just on time. In addition to strengthening the human resources capacities of its permanent and non permanent staff, the funds have helped the radio to use ICT.

Radio Penc Mi was created in June 1996, by three farmer associations: Jig Jam, Union des groupements de Koulouck and Maison familiale Rurale de Kaïré, assisted by the UK based NGO Oxfam. It works closely with the Agricultural Research Centre of Mbambey (ISRA), in support of its activities with farmers.

This first community radio established in Senegal broadcasts ten hours per day to rural and semi urban population in the departments of: Mbour, Thies, Fatick and Bambey in the three local languages Serere, Wolof and Pular and in French, the country’s official language.

The Penc Mi radio programme schedule which is reflecting socio-economic activities of the region, and vary from season to season, is elaborated in a consensual manner by the management comity and the listeners clubs that have been established in many of the villages.

Programmes are addressing subjects such as agriculture, health, education, environment, rural economy, local culture, gender, society problems, HIV/AIDS and good governance.

The radio suitcase offered by the IPDC will allow Penc Mi radio to be closer to its listeners to inform, educate and sensitize the village people living in those isolated areas. Penc Mi FM 90.6, just launched a programme on HIV/AIDS in the departments of Mbour and Thies. to encourage behavioural change in groups most vulnerable to AIDS, such as young girls and boys, and help reduce the prevalence rate through awareness-building campaigns in villages.