PMC began working in Rwanda in April of 2007. Rwanda is a country approximately half the size of Costa Rica with a population of almost 12 million expected to double by 2060.
PMC broadcast one radio serial drama in Rwanda, Umurage Urukwiye (“Rwanda’s Brighter Future”), which was so popular and powerful that it was rebroadcast in its entirety. Forty-nine percent of listeners to the original broadcast reported that they had talked to a spouse or partner about family planning, 39 percent said they followed advice about family planning, they were 2.7 times more likely than non-listeners to want to know their HIV status, and two times more likely than non-listeners to have heard about a medication mothers can take to prevent transmission of HIV/AIDS to a baby. PMC has since broadcast one other serial drama, Impano n’Impamba (“A Gift For Today That Will Last a Long Time”), and is currently broadcasting its third radio serial drama, Umurage (“Inheritance for a Better Future”).
11,609,666 (July 2015)
PMC broadcasts serial radio dramas in Rwanda to address health and human rights challenges, as well as environmental concerns.
Rwanda is one of the most densely populated countries in the world and food production is one of its greatest challenges. Poor nutrition impacts all people, but particularly women and children. One in five children are physically or mentally stunted due to malnutrition and more than 10 percent of children die before their fifth birthday.
Agriculture is the primary economic activity for more than 80 percent of the population, most of which live in rural areas, but the high population density limits land for crops and Rwanda ran out of new arable land almost 20 years ago.
In the past 47 years, Rwanda’s forests have decreased by 64 percent to make way for crops, but 96.2 percent of Rwandan households rely on wood as a source of energy. The forests are also home to Rwanda’s gorillas, the single largest tourist industry in Rwanda. Rwanda has committed to reaching 30 percent forestation by 2020. It is one of only three countries in Central and Western Africa to reverse its declining forest cover and is on course to achieve its 30 percent goal.