The training curriculum has been developed on the basis of the needs assessment, which was conducted last February with UNESCO’s support among radio listeners and a wide range of stakeholders, including the management and volunteers from Karas FM. The training aims to address weak points that had been identified during this assessment.

The main objective of the upcoming workshop is to enable volunteers at Karas Community Radio Station to produce content that reflects the needs of the Keetmanshoop community. Volunteers will also learn how to involve listeners as active participants into the process of content development.

The Karas radio station will be encouraged to build and maintain collaborative partnerships with key stakeholders operating in the health and development sectors. This process is expected to contribute to sustaining a learning programme that will enhance sensitization on key gender inequalities within the community.

The training will be facilitated by representatives of the Media and Training Centre for Health, the Centre for Disease Control and the Karas Regional Council. Staff from Radio Riverside in Upington, South Africa, will share their experiences of implementing a community learning model that is funded by the Commonwealth of Learning.

This initiative lies within the framework of UNESCO's contribution towards the promotion of community participation in sustainable development through community media. It seeks the realization of the Millennium Development Goal 3 on gender equality and women’s empowerment, with special focus on media-related issues.