Suitcase Radio for "Radio Browsing" Programmes in Mali Donated by UNESCO

The four radio stations of Timbuktu, Mali, received a suitcase radio Friday, offered by UNESCO to encourage the production of programmes using the information resources of Internet. The suitcase radio comprises a complete broadcasting unit and can also be used as a production studio. It is to be housed in the community telecentre of Timbuktu, a UNESCO-supported project, in order to enable radio staff to produce "radio browsing" programmes.

In "radio browsing" programmes, presenter browses the Internet in response to listeners` questions, describes in local languages the websites selected and discusses their contents with a local expert. In this way, the entire community has access to online information in their own language, explained and contextualised. Radio browsing programmes raise awareness of the value of Internet and encourage listeners to make use of the telecentre`s computers.

Friday`s handing-over ceremony was broadcast live from the suitcase radio by all four radio stations of Timbuktu. The radios also broadcast simultaneously Timbuktu`s first radio browsing programme, produced in French, Tamacheq and Songhay. The theme chosen by the producers was "world heritage" and the programme browsed the World Heritage Centre`s website, discussing the site`s contents with a local expert in charge of safeguarding the many monuments of Timbuktu which has been on the World Heritage List since 1988.

Télécentre Communautaire Polyvalent, Tombouctou
UNESCO's World Heritage Centre
World Heritage Register: Old Town of Djenné
World Heritage Register: Timbuctu