Cambodia Health Education Media Service
Since 1998, the radio soap ‘Especially For You Young People’ produced by CHEMS
in Phnom Penh, encourages discussion on taboo subjects such as HIV and safe sex. In
December 2004 CHEMS became an independent organisation and now also provides training in
advocacy, script writing and radio production to other organisations.
View here 4 short
TV spots
produced by CHEMS for
young people in
Cambodia ...
The main focus of
CHEMS is reproductive health for young people aged between 12 and 25 years. An
interactive radio programme is broadcast live four times per week on two radio stations,
where young people can phone or write in for advice on sexual and reproductive health
issues. The programme, "Especially for you, young people", is extremely
popular around the country, providing a safe medium for young Cambodians to voice their
opinions and concerns about difficult issues.
 A radio soap opera
“Lotus on a Muddy Lake” also deals with health and social issues affecting young
people. Topics such as birth-spacing, HIV and AIDS, arranged marriage, puberty and rape
are examined through the lives of characters. The drama is set in a small village in
rural Cambodia but also covers stories about young migrant workers in Phnom Penh, and the
experiences, both positive and negative, which they face in the big city.
Listen
to a Radio 4 documentary by Felicity Finch about our Cambodian radio soap Lotus on Muddy
Lake...(click image)
 The radio programming is complemented
by a bi-monthly column in one of Cambodia's most popular youth magazines and by regular TV and Radio
campaigns, which
reinforce the messages being broadcast.
Listeners are invited to send their comments via community based
CHEMS letterboxes.
 Community theatre
activities in rural areas also help to strengthen key messages. These shows are
created and performed by local people who are trained by CHEMS. They have proven
extremely popular method of providing health information and some theatre groups have been
asked by the authorities to play at local festivals and events.
 The CHEMS outreach team
holds regular meetings with young focus groups in the provinces and Phnom Penh to get
feedback on the programming and to identify health issues which still need to be covered.
This form of audience participation is unique in Cambodia and allows young people
to contribute to the programme in a very active way.
These groups also
receive training in reproductive health, communications and lifeskills to enable them to
become peer educators in their area. Workshops on media, communication and advocacy
skills are provided to development organisations, journalists and media personnel in
Cambodia. CHEMS also offers radio and video production services and in 2003
completed a 30-episode radio drama about domestic violence for a local women’s group.
Follow this link for
CHEMS website
in English.
Funding partners for CHEMS: The Big Lottery Fund/UNFPA
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Health on Air is a practical guide to producing health education programmes for radio.
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