To help HarvestPlus reach farming households with appropriate and consistent messaging, FRI led the development of an entertaining and educative radio mini-drama series, in close collaboration with HarvestPlus Uganda, and supported with SMS polling (TRAC FM).  350,000 households in 13 districts were targeted for access to a radio mini-series that promotes production and consumption of OFSP, and that contributes to increased knowledge of OFSP nutrition among listeners. The intervention also expected to increase knowledge about the preparation and consumption of OFSP. The target was to ensure that seven radio stations in Uganda promote OFSP through radio mini-drama and complementary radio spots.  

My Children:

This radio play was implemented by FRI, H+ and TRAC FM. Audience research was done through Focus Group Discussions (FGDs). Broadcasters were trained on OFSP, radio craft and use of ICTs. The next step was participatory drama design, scriptwriting, translation and audio production. During broadcast, SMS polling was done by TRAC FM. Monitoring of the outcomes was one together with HarvestPlus and partners in community groups.   My children was made up of 30 episodes, each 2-4 minutes long which are repeated. Each episode focuses on one key message or piece of information regarding production and nutritional aspects of OFSP. Listeners participated through free SMS polls and quizzes at the end of each episode. Listeners can call and listen to previous episodes for 55 UGX/minute.   The plot: My Children is a story about love, domestic strife, money, power, and OFSP. Florence, the heroine of the series, struggles to grow enough nutritious food to feed her family, and knows that her children are not as healthy as they could be. She reluctantly decides to give OFSP a try. But first she has to stop her money-obsessed husband from selling the family farming plot to fund a foolish “business idea.”  

Project leader: Keith Perkins