Evaluation of the Radio Soap Opera Produced by the Centre for Common Ground

This 21-page evaluation examines the impact of two radio soap operas produced by the the Center for Common Ground (CCG) in Angola. CCG is a programme of Search for Common Ground (SFCG), an international non-governmental organisation (NGO). As part of its strategy to build the capacity of Angolans in conflict prevention and resolution, the CCG created "Vozes Que Falam" and "Coisas Da Nossa Gente", which were broadcast on Radio Nacional de Angola and its provincial stations as well as on LAC (Luanda Antena Comercial). Seeking to reach internally displaced persons (IDPs) in particular through this entertaining yet educational approach, CCG's goal was to promote wholesome relationships among all Angolans.

To assess the impact of these productions, CCG contracted the services of a team of experts, most of whom were officers from Instituto Nacional de Estatística (National Institute of Statistics). The data-gathering procedure was direct interview, while a questionnaire with 22 variables was used as a data-gathering instrument on which information on each interviewee was recorded. Sixty percent of the people interviewed were war-displaced persons. The purpose of the study was to learn what the broadcast of the soap operas meant to the listeners, assessing the quality of these particular productions as well as enabling CCG to design future conflict resolution soap operas that will be applicable within the Angolan context.

Excerpt from the "Findings" section:

• "...80% of those interviewed listened to the soap operas, majority of them were in Luanda and Benguela.
• Although Vozes Que Falam was originally meant to reach out to IDPs, 71% of those interviewed said that they listened to it, especially in Huíla Province.
• Coisas da Nossa Gente was mostly listened to in Luanda and Lubango and was generally listened to by 58% of the interviewees.
• The topics that aroused most interest in interviewees included: Human Rights and conflict resolution, Fight against HIV/AIDS, Street Children, Health Education and Love for fellow-creature.
• 91% of those interviewed noticed an increase in their conflict resolution and prevention capacity.
• The quality of the soap operas was rated as good by "68% of the interviewees."
• The [desire for] continued production and broadcast of soap operas was nearly unanimous.
• 81% of those interviewed would like to see the quality of the soap operas improved...
• Finally, they want a greater variety of topics to be covered by the soap operas."