A visit to Cerca Carvajal’s radio and TV station

[posted by Kathy Gross]

I have seen the building with the radio station for several years, but had never been inside of it until this trip.  Sony Orzile, who is the computer teacher volunteered to take our group there and show us around.  They even have a website where you can listen to their broadcasts: www.http://radiotelerossignolhaiti.com/

The radio station can be heard throughout the village and the surrounding areas.  We were told that most people now have access to a radio.  People are now get news of what is happening in Haiti on a regular basis. In the village they estimated that almost have the houses now have electricity and most of those have television sets!  How quickly things are changing.  Sony told us that when children from a rural area have gone to Hinche, they were teased for being from the country, but they were better prepared than their urban compatriots.  He attributed this to the lack of access to TV.  In his opinion, children watch TV and spend less time on their studies.  Sounds familiar, doesn’t it?

The TV station does its own local broadcasts as well as carrying broadcasts from their national channels.  They include game shows, news shows, talk shows, religious services.  We asked if they had a regular Catholic program, we were told not yet, but they would be happy to carry it if asked.  They also do public service announcements.  When we have brought American doctors with us, they have advertised that in advance. 

They gave us a tour of the station, including the rooms where they film live broadcasts.  It was exciting to see Cerca Carvajal making one more step forward!

Joseph in the broadcast room