FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MEDIA CONTACT:
Agnes Portalewska
(617) 441-5400 x14
Cultural Survival Announces Project Manager of Community Media Grants Project
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (September 6, 2016) --Cultural Survival is pleased to announce Avexnim Cojti as the Project Manager for our new Community Media Grants Project, an initiative that will strengthen international Indigenous community radio stations’ broadcast infrastructure and systems. Originally from Chichicastenango, Guatemala, Avexnim Cojti (Maya K'iche'), has been working as Program Associate for our Community Radio Program and for Indigenous Rights Radio since 2015. She is a sociologist with more than ten years of experience in the fields of immigration, community development, community radio, Aboriginal Peoples in Canada, and Indigenous rights in Guatemala. Most of her experience is in managing or delivering programs and projects that aim to improve the conditions of vulnerable populations. Avexnim is fluent in English, Spanish and K'iche'.
Cultural Survival’s Community Media Grants Project is a new project under our Community Media Program that will provide opportunities for international Indigenous community radio stations to apply for funding through a nontraditional, culturally appropriate and dynamic grants process designed to meet the needs of these flourishing community broadcast systems. Grants will be available to provide equipment, training in production and journalism, legal support and content production as well as specific trainings as needed to ensure sustainable and impactful communication platforms and regional networks that support and advance Indigenous communities’ rights and ability to engage in relevant issues affecting their wellbeing. The first phase of the project will work with 15-20 Indigenous community radio stations in Central America, East Africa, South America and Nepal, with the objective of ensuring that target Indigenous communities have a viable and critical medium for dissemination of news, information, community events, historical documentation, education and entertainment. Overall, the project will enhance community efforts to establish and ensure sustainability of Indigenous community-controlled media.
“Indigenous Peoples’ right to freedom of expression and information is the overarching goal of this initiative. The project’s intent is to ensure target Indigenous communities have a viable and community controlled medium for dissemination of local and world news, information, community events, politics, and education. Community Radio provides access to information in extremely rural areas and for these communities serves as a tool for local organizing, cultural and language revitalization, educational opportunities, information on lands and natural resources issues, women’s rights, and Indigenous rights,” said Suzanne Benally, Executive Director of Cultural Survival.
This project is being launched with support from the Novo Foundation Fund of the Tides Foundation.
During the first phase of this project, some grants will be awarded in partnership with WACC. Starting in the fall of 2016, Cultural Survival and WACC will select grantees from our network of international Indigenous radio stations. First year grantees will be selected from four major regions, Central America, East Africa, South America and Nepal. Projects will be selected and mentored through a program design process based on the needs of their communities, best practices in the field, community values and capacities. Grantees will be selected with the criteria of immediate need, promise for continued success, and the ability to participate fully in the initiative.
“Cultural Survival has been working with the Indigenous radio movement since 2005. Today, Indigenous-controlled media is needed more than ever, especially when mainstream media often overlooks and marginalizes Indigenous languages and issues. Daily, Indigenous radio journalists risk their lives to communicate essential information about human rights to their communities to defend their ways of life, lands, and resources. As an advocacy organization for Indigenous rights, it is our duty to support these efforts in claiming freedom of expression and access to information. It is our hope that over the coming years, many communities will benefit from this initiative,” said Mark Camp, Cultural Survival Deputy Executive Director.
About Cultural SurvivalCultural Survival’s goal is to support Indigenous Peoples self-determination and the advocacy of their Indigenous rights – the right to their lands and territories, the right to practice their cultures and speak their languages, and the right to control and sustainably manage their natural resources – so that they may determine their futures. Over 43 years of experience as a registered 501(c)(3) working with Indigenous communities has established Cultural Survival as a pre-eminent nonprofit organization experienced in global advocacy for Indigenous Peoples’ rights and with the expertise, partnerships, networks and communications to reach a global audience.
Our work on the front lines of advocacy with international Indigenous communities is predicated on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and our programming works to inform Indigenous communities of their rights, issues and threats affecting their communities. Our programs come from an understanding that the principles of community ownership, self-determination, informed citizenry, access to information and the freedom to organize and shape the future in a way consistent with one’s tradition, language, culture and community are the foundations of vibrant and durable communities.
Contact Avexnim Cojti at avexnim@cs.org.
