A two-year international project to support freedom of expression in Belarus through independent broadcasting was officially launched in Vilnius last month.
The project focuses on radio journalism programming and training for young Belarusians and is implemented jointly by IREX Europe, the BBC World Service Trust (BBCWST) and European Radio for Belarus (ERB), as well as associate partners the European Humanities University (EHU) and the Belarusian Institute for Strategic Studies (BISS).
It focuses on producing quality informative programming for a Belarusian youth audience and also has a strong journalism education component.
Project aims
The project will offer more than 20 practical, "learning by doing" training sessions in radio journalism at the European Humanities University (EHU).
Ellie Haworth, BBC World Service Trust Training Co-ordinator, says; "The aim is that several student teams will use the in-depth journalism and technical training to produce programmes, and that with our partners on the project we can help the development of some brilliant young journalists of the future."
At least 90 Belarusian students will receive professional training aimed at helping them produce their own student radio programming. These will include weekly editions of the discussion show "Forum Belarus" to be broadcast on Europe Radio for Belarus.
"This project is an important [chance] to diversify our educational process by giving students the opportunity to learn practical skills from professionals at the BBC World Service Trust," says Almira Ousmanova, Director of Master's Program on Cultural Studies.
"We hope the radio studio will become an important platform bringing together both students' community and faculty members to engage into the process of creative and professional media production at the university."
Better informed
The students will also prepare their own weekly program to be aired on the European Radio for Belarus (ERB), an exile radio station based in Poland, Ukraine and Lithuania which broadcasts to a youth audience in Belarus.
Andrzej Bielecki, ERB Vice-President, explains that this is the first initiative of such scope focused on youth broadcasting in Belarus. He believes that this project will give their Belarusian audience "really unique and up-to-date information about events in Belarus, Europe and around the world."
Mike de Villiers, IREX Europe Director, adds: "[it] will hopefully increase the flow of independent and accurate information into Belarus so that young Belarusians can make better informed decisions about the future of their country. "
The project is supported by the EIDHR program of the European Commission, United States development agency (USAID) and the Transition Promotion Program of the Czech Ministry for Foreign Affairs. A full list of our donors can be accessed here.