Using Entertainment-Education to Reduce Chronic Malnutrition in Guatemala

Juntos Prosperamos campaign banner promoting The Spark of Change radio program.

A new entertainment-education radio program – La Chispa del Cambio (Spark of Change) – was introduced at the launch in Quiché, Guatemala, of a social and behavior change communication (SBCC) campaign designed to reduce chronic malnutrition called Juntos Prosperamos. Nos atrevemos. Avanzamos. (Together we prosper. We dare. We move forward.)

The 20-episode radio program explores the journey and adventures of an Altiplano family from the Guatemalan Highlands – their love stories, challenges and struggles to achieve family well-being and good health. The program is broadcast in Spanish, Ixil and K’iche and runs through July 2017.

The radio program is the result of a close collaboration with local radio stations (Radio Ixil, Voz de Nevaj, Radio Alianza and Nebaj Stereo), that helped with casting, production and dissemination to ensure broad coverage, promotion and heightened awareness.

USAID Guatemala and its Health Communication Capacity Collaborative (HC3) project, based at Johns Hopkins Center for Communication Programs, are leading the design and implementation of Juntos Prosperamos, which represents an integrated effort among USAID implementing partners in the Altiplano.

The launch on February 26 drew more than 250 people, including Mayor Pedro Raymundo Cobo, Indigenous Mayor Miguel Rivera Solis, representatives from the Ministry of Health, community leaders and community facilitators of USAID partner projects – Paisano, Agexport, Nutrisalud, HEP+ and HC3.

Nebaj Mayor Pedro Raymundo Cobo and Indigenous Mayor Miguel Rivera Solis address the crowd at the Nebaj Central Park.

HC3 Guatemala staff and cast of indigenous voices that participated in the entertainment-education radio drama segment of The Spark of Change at the launch event.