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Population Media Center (PMC) works worldwide “Yam Yankre opened my eyes. It allowed me to change my life using entertainment-education for social change. NEWSLETTER // SUMMER/FALL // 2014 and my family. The advice in soap operas helps for the future.”

- Soumalia Nagre, Burkina Faso (Listener of Yam Yankre) POPULATIONMEDIA.ORG

“Drama is a way of correction and advice that everyone in the world can see...I see the disadvantages of early marriage. When our children are rushed into early marriage, they will not have time to educate themselves.”

- Balikisu Ahmed, Nigeria (Listener of Hannunka Mai Sanda) EAST LOS HIGH SEASONS TWO AND THREE

Sex, revenge, love...plus information about HIV/AIDS, birth elements said that they found East Los High’s resources incredibly “That girl [in the drama] that was pregnant and the parents insisted she must not go to the hospital, control, and nutrition. This upbeat, provocative, and exciting helpful, and 76 percent said they shared those resources with rather she should use their local herbs, but the husband refused. We love that because it is what has TV drama brought Population Media Center (PMC) to friends. Hollywood and confirmed the power of using transmedia This United States series came about when PMC realized that 52 been happening in real life.” storytelling to support dramas for social change. percent of Latinas in the United States were becoming pregnant before the age of 20, which prevented many of these young women - Jummai Abubakar, Nigeria (Listener of Hannunka Mai Sanda) In early 2014, announced that it had ordered 12 new episodes from completing high school. of Population Media Center’s award winning English-language series East Los High, which features an all-Latino cast and PMC produced East Los High in association with Wise explores real-life issues such as teen pregnancy. In 2013, the Entertainment, led by Mota, former PMC Vice President of series consistently ranked among Hulu’s most popular programs. Communications and Programs. Mota recognized the power of Season two launched in July 2014 and is performing even better, transmedia, creating video blogs by characters, extended scenes, prompting Hulu to announce it will be picking up East Los High for a and key character social media profiles to enhance the drama. The third season. show was co-created by Carlos Portugal and Kathleen Bedoya. CHANGING THE WORLD, “We are thrilled with the success of both Season One and Two of “We’ve had a role in entertainment programming in more than East Los High in terms of both the social impact and the large and 50 countries,” says Bill Ryerson, PMC President, “but when we dedicated audience. And to be green lit for Season Three just days realized that Latinas in the United States have such high teenage ONE AT A TIME after launching Season Two speaks to the tremendous success of pregnancy rates, we realized we could and should be providing sex the show,” says Katie Elmore Mota, Executive Producer. education in our own backyard.” n

East Los High’s popularity has led to media coverage in the Los HELP CHANGE THE WORLD, MAKE A DONATION TODAY : WWW.POPULATIONMEDIA.ORG/DONATE Angeles Times, the Huffington Post, NPR, Cosmopolitan, and many more, but it’s not only East Los High’s big audience that’s drawing attention. In the first month of broadcast last year, more than 30,000 Watch East Los High for free in the United States: people used the Planned Parenthood widgets on eastloshigh.com to connect with information or services. More than 98 percent of those who watched the episodes and used the transmedia www.EastLosHigh.com 5 PMC PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS PMC IN THE NEWS CURRENT EVENT HIGHLIGHTS PMC APPROACH SEX, SOAP OPERAS, SOCIAL CHANGE

“AGASHI” AND PMC’S BURUNDI OFFICE “For me, this is the perfect opportunity at the PMC IN AUSTIN, TX: JOIN US FOR SXSW ECO “This is a really dynamic methodology,” says Behind the entertainment, though, perfect time,” says Bozzette. “It combines Kriss Barker Barker. “The stunning results are what drew these soap operas are based on proven GET TWO GLOBAL HEALTH CORPS FELLOWS The people have voted! Population Media Center (PMC), a global me to PMC and to Sabido.” By the end of 2002, psychological theories. Barker explains my experience in international public health Vice President of leader in entertainment-education for social good, has been chosen Barker was the Vice President of International that Miguel Sabido, who pioneered the “I can’t believe we’ll be in Bujumbura on project management with my interests in International to be part of the program line-up at the 2014 South by Southwest Eco Programs at PMC. Since that time, she has methodology in the 1970s, worked to Friday,” says Alex Bozzette, a 2014-2015 design and communications.” Programs (SXSW Eco) conference taking place October 6-8 in Austin, Texas. trained producers and writers for more than understand why his methodology was so Global Health Corps fellow. Bozzette was This is the first time US-based PMC has effective. For instance, Sabido’s insertion sitting with his co-fellow, Jean Sacha 30 different TV and radio shows. teamed up with Global Health Corps to offer SXSW Eco attracts several thousand members of the global of a “transitional” character drastically Barikumutima, in the offices of Population When Kriss Barker first met Bill Ryerson year-long paid fellowships in Burundi, one community to explore, engage, and co-create solutions for a increased behavior change adoption. Media Center (PMC) in Vermont. in Washington DC, she thought he must be available to a US citizen and one available to sustainable world each year. This piqued the interest of Population What is Sabido? Sabido strove to understand why and Jean Sacha Barikumutima and Alex Bozzette mistaken. It was 2001, and Barker, an expert Media Center’s Texas-based state chapter (PMC-TX) – which works found Albert Bandura’s Social Learning Two days later, on July 17, the two made the a Burundi citizen. in public health communications, didn’t Take a well-written, engaging, emotional soap week, Agashi addresses issues such as to engage local elected officials, community leaders, and the Texas Theory, which explained the importance of 27-hour trip to Bujumbura, Burundi for their think the numbers Ryerson was reciting opera and then add an underlying framework “We are so excited to partner with child nutrition and family planning through public on population and sustainability issues, explaining how PMC observational learning. year-long placement in PMC’s Burundi office. were possible. Ryerson was discussing a Population Media Center on this intriguing storylines and plot twists. Over addresses these issues in ways that enhance human health, human that unobtrusively yet obviously weaves in communications effort in Tanzania that had “It’s actually highly formulaic but that’s project,” says Jean Marie Karikurubu, the course of the episodes, characters rights, the environment, and economic justice. social issues like HIV/AIDS, women’s rights, used a strategy Barker was unfamiliar with: why it’s replicable,” Barker says of PMC’s the Burundi Program Manager at Global demonstrate choices and consequences, family planning, or environmental preservation PMC submitted a proposal for the panel “Women First: Improve A woman and her child in Ethiopia the Sabido Methodology. approach to serial dramas. “It works for all Health Corps. “Their mission and their learning from their actions and teaching and you may have found an example of a Society and Protect the Environment” featuring four female Sabido soap opera. people in all places.” communications strategies have been listeners as well. panelists from a diverse group of organizations that focus on 2. How the attainment of sexual and reproductive health and rights for “I was blown away,” says Barker. “Those shown to be very effective, and we’re entertainment-education, technology for social good, and women’s women locally, nationally, and internationally translate into healthier of us in the business of public health The stories feature “positive,” “negative,” These steps have achieved incredible excited to offer fellows the opportunity to “I believe [PMC’s] approach has the societies and improved environmental protection – in addition to the rights and empowerment. communication knew that you couldn’t and “transitional” characters that results. For example, married women get involved in this project.” ability to address cultural mindsets,” says individual benefits for each person. get real behavior change in a short realistically model behavior in long- who listened to Yeken Kignit in Ethiopia Barikumutima, who had been interning in “It’s an honor to be part of this event and take a leadership role in time-frame.” But Ryerson insisted, citing increased their use of family planning by 3. What innovative methods are being used to address these incredibly running serial dramas, relying on PMC’s radio drama, Agashi (“Hey! Look PMC’s Burundi office when he was awarded convening this panel,” says Keith Annis, the Director of PMC-TX. statistics like 82 percent of listeners saying 31.2 percentage points (12.3 percent to Again!”), launched in Burundi in January the fellowship. “It draws people in, and as personal, cultural, and often controversial topics. Powerful behavior extensive formative research to develop “SXSW is well known and respected around the world, and we’re change communications examples that will be discussed include, they changed their behaviors to avoid HIV 43.5 percent). In Nigeria, 72.4 percent of 2014 and will run for approximately they listen to the drama – they understand the characters and storylines. Over pleased to be selected as one of the panels.” but are not limited to, entertainment-education, gaming, and targeted by limiting number of sexual partners and the population listened to PMC’s show, One of the many events in Burundi celebrating Agashi n the course of broadcast, which can be two years. Airing two episodes per the message themselves.” use of technology. using condoms, and independent data from Ruwan Dare. One impact of this incredible PMC’s idea for the panel had to be voted on by the general public to the Tanzanian government showing a 153 years, audiences develop bonds with listenership was 67 percent of new clients gauge interest. Response was so strong that the panel was selected “This promises to be a panel that anyone who cares about the percent increase in condom distribution in characters and learn vicariously through at clinics naming Ruwan Dare as the direct to be included in the first wave of programming. The panel will environment won’t want to miss,” says Annis. “It’s an angle broadcast areas during the first year. each character’s decisions and the or indirect source influencing them to seek are sent to work in another household when feature Missie Thurston from PMC, Kelly L’Engle from FHI 360, Katie CHRISTINA GUÉRIN’S UNLIKELY PATH TO of environmental protection that’s not often discussed and, in repercussions. family planning or reproductive health their family is unable to provide for them, Mota from Wise Entertainment, and Diana Lugo-Martinez from the WORKING ON PMC’S HAITIAN DRAMA addition to protecting the planet, it improves the lives of men, Barker had heard about Ryerson and his services for the first time. making kids servants, with no regard for their National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health. women, and children today.” organization, Population Media Center According to Barker, the Sabido education, well-being, or happiness. (PMC). She was interested in learning Methodology works for a number of In addition to PMC’s creation of serial When Christina Guérin was a child, she These women, experts in their field, will discuss and address: If you want to be part of this lively and enlightening conversation, more about how PMC worked to improve reasons, but she emphasizes that it must be dramas, PMC also trains others to decided she didn’t want a career in radio “I was working at a radio station,” she says, register at sxsweco.com/attend. “Women First: Improve the health of people with entertainment- a thrill for the audience to listen to or watch implement the Sabido Methodology for soap operas. As a young girl, she spent “when a young girl was brought in. We were 1. The definitions of sexual and reproductive health and rights for women Society and Protect the Environment” is scheduled for 9am on education, specifically Sabido soap operas. the program – otherwise it won’t work. social change. n many days and nights in a Haiti radio studio going to announce her name on air to find and the challenges being faced locally, nationally, and internationally in realizing them. Wednesday, October 8th. n watching her mother work long hours. her family, but she didn’t want to. She was a restavek and didn’t want to return to her life.” In September 2013, Population Media Center (“Rwanda’s Brighter Future”) addressing story. I tried to explain that I never spoke (PMC) launched a new radio soap opera in Guérin helped get that young girl to a shelter, Christina Guérin and Joan Conn AN UNEXPECTED of him. I talked to him about how theatre ‘exceptional’ designation from Charity Navigator differentiates PMC issues such as reproductive health, family Haiti addressing child slavery, reproductive just one of roughly 300,000 children caught up POPULATION MEDIA CENTER GETS RECOGNIZED AS A HIGHLY CONSEQUENCE planning, HIV/AIDS, deforestation, and works, how the story was put together, and social change all over the world. from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust.” health, and family planning. Guérin found in the restavek system. Guérin realized that REPUTABLE CHARITY BY TWO RATING ORGANIZATIONS animal habitat preservation. that I was an actor, not a writer. But it was herself, once again, in the studio, but this she wanted to help address this issue. FOR PMC ACTOR more than a year before he spoke to me.” In June 2014, GuideStar also announced that PMC had achieved gold time, she’s the producer. “This was an opportunity to address crucial Regero played the character of Cyungo – a In February 2014, Charity Navigator announced that for the second NORBERT REGERO “I realized that if I want to help, it doesn’t topics in a country where we had never status. GuideStar’s goal is to make it easy to figure out what nonprofit young man at university on a scholarship PMC uses extensive research to create consecutive year, Population Media Center (PMC) has been awarded “It’s something that I enjoy,” Guérin says have to be opening a home or protesting – broadcast,” says Ryerson. organizations are really doing, what their missions are, and whether or who finds himself failing in his classwork realistic dramas, and Regero’s friend saw the coveted 4-star rating for sound fiscal management and for laughingly. “I had to admit that. Plus, I realized Zoukoutap was the best way I could help.” not they are having an impact. When Norbert Regero was awarded and in trouble with sex and drugs. At his himself reflected so much that he thought that my mother was doing everything. We Zoukoutap finished broadcasting in July commitment to accountability and transparency. More and more a role in a radio serial drama being low point, Cyungo earns money by bringing the character was modeled on him. But it would be another six years before 2014, but response to the program has been donors have come to rely on Charity Navigator, the nation’s largest “By achieving GuideStar’s gold status, PMC has shown again that it’s produced and aired in his home country young girls to a wealthy man for exploit. have six people doing what she did.” “If someone like Cyungo changes his Zoukoutap would come to fruition. Guérin so strong, PMC is planning to rebroadcast and most-utilized evaluator of charities, for its unbiased, objective, a highly credible organization,” says Paul Ugalde, PMC’s Director of of Rwanda, he was ecstatic. Not only was it a job, it was a job in theatre – his first This character’s story became problematic life,” says Regero talking about playing It was Guérin’s work in a radio station that and Joan Conn, Executive Director of the Zoukoutap while actively working to secure numbers-based ratings of over 7,000 American charities. Development. “We are doing what we say we’re doing, and it’s having significant impact. We deal in trust, transparency, and accountability.” n professional role doing a job he loved. for one of Regero’s real-life relationships. the transitional character, “then others brought about the existence of Zoukoutap Restavek Freedom Foundation, met with Bill funding for a follow-on Haitian program. “Only 19 percent of the charities we rate have received at least two Regero didn’t yet know that this role can learn how to be better.” And, luckily, (“To Limp”), PMC’s serial drama in Haitian Ryerson, President of PMC, in 2011 to discuss “My classmate came to me one day and consecutive four-star evaluations, indicating that Population Media would threaten one of his friendships. Regero’s friend came to understand that Creole. In her late 20s, Guérin unexpectedly the idea of a soap opera to address child “Fans are stalking us – in a good way!” says said ‘Did you tell the writer my story?’” Regero played a character – one that Center outperforms most other charities in America,” says Ken Berger, Support the work of PMC: found herself face-to-face with an important slavery in Haiti. It seemed like a perfect fit, Guérin. “They are clamoring to know what Regero was chosen to perform in Regero says explaining. “He said he could symbolized common challenges and President & CEO of Charity Navigator, in his congratulatory letter. “This issue: child slavery. In Haiti, young children since PMC creates radio soap operas for happened to their beloved program.” n www.POPULATIONMEDIA.ORG/DONATE PMC’s serial drama Umurage Urukwiye never be my friend because I played his life showed that change is possible. n 2 3 4