The basic idea behind "Great Lakes Reconciliation Radio" is to embed knowledge in large civilian audiences living in conflict areas and to provide them with role models on how to withstand incitement to violence, be it by outside influences or by their own psychology. The project is based on the work of psychologists Ervin Staub and Laurie Anne Pearlman. Staub's systematic comparison of the psychology of genocides around the world has resulted in a "simple to grasp vocabulary" of steps and elements that lead people to commit violence, as well as a systemic approach of how to counteract them. Pearlman's work on combining this knowledge with simple trauma treatment techniques makes this a potent civic tool in traumatized societies in Rwanda, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Burundi. Using  "Entertainment and Education" techniques developed at Johns Hopkins University, this research is packaged into messages that form the basis for radio drama series that have become immensely popular in Rwanda and Burundi. In Rwanda, broadcasts reach an estimated 92% of the population. The campaigns have now been running for six years and are ongoing. Impact evaluations run by researchers from Yale University show groundbreaking evidence of positive impact of such a broadcast activity on the attitudes and behaviors of audiences.

Hosted by Radio la Benevolencija

Panelists:

George Weiss, Radio La Benevolencija founder

Johan Deflander, International development/communication expert 

Friday, 5 June 2009, 9:30 a.m., Room AB