On June 9th and 10th, 2015, Asociación Sobrevivencia Cultural (ASC), Cultural Survival’s sister organization in Guatemala, conducted a two-day exchange among seven community radios from El Salvador and Guatemala. As part of a generous grant from the Swift Foundation, ASC selected four community radios in Guatemala to travel to El Salvador and visit, as well as learn about the work of, three community stations in El Salvador. Radio Ixchel, Radio Kamalb'e, Radio Swan Tinamit and Radio Xilotepec participated from Guatemala and Radio Cadena Mi Gente, Radio Guazapa and Radio TV Izcanal participated from El Salvador. The exchange focused on sharing experiences and knowledge about their work as community radio stations and addressing various obstacles they face. The exchange provided various opportunities to collaborate in the future on radio production, training, and even the possibility to create a Central American community radio network.
“These exchanges help radio volunteers in Guatemala understand their reality and feel supported,” commented Cesar Gomez, a Cultural Survival radio producer. “[Guatemalan radio volunteers] often learn that despite the struggle to obtain legal status, community radios in Guatemala are lucky to have volunteers and the support of their communities which isn’t always the case in El Salvador.” Elsa Chiquito, of Radio Ixchel in Guatemala, said, “It was my first time in El Salvador and I learned so much from the participants there.” “The volunteers in El Salvador encouraged us to continue our work and take advantage of the numerous youth volunteers at our radio because despite [the Salvadoran stations’] legal status, they are struggling to get youth interested in participating in the radio.” RTV Izcanal produced a short video on the visit.
The two day exchange also included a workshop to help volunteers from both countries learn new techniques for editing, radio production, and interviewing. The participants spent half a day conducting interviews to piece together a short program on the importance of these international exchanges. Gomez conducted a workshop teaching participants advanced editing skills to improve the quality of their radio productions. The event concluded with a meal where the participants each shared a piece of advice and encouraging words to each other to continue the valuable work of community media in their countries.
