I am very proud to say that I have led efforts to form 53 listening and dialogue groups for the Equal Access International ‘We Can Do It’ youth radio show. The youth clubs are a positive example of the impact of Equal Access programming in my community. They have become a positive force for change in Banteay Meanchey province – my homeland.”

-Mik Sinh, Community Youth Reporter

Utilizing its long-running and popular We Can Do It youth radio program, in 2017 EAI produced content to educated audiences about goal setting, savings, budgeting, financial institutions, the Wing money transfer service, and the Wing Pilot program. EAI estimates that the three Wing-supported We Can Do It episodes were heard by hundreds of thousands of Cambodian youth.

PROJECT ACTIVITIES: 

These listeners included members of the hundreds of We Can Do It youth clubs located around the country. Club members joined together to listen to the Wing-supported radio programs and discuss what they learned. This shared learning environment allowed youth to explore often confusing and intimidating financial literacy topics in a supportive environment.

The mini-dramas depicted a young girl living in a provincial village that faces combined problems of poverty, lack of access to education, poor healthcare, and the pressures of adolescence. As the result of a family health emergency, her sister in Phnom Penh must transfer money from the city to their home village. This sets the stage for an exploration of financial literacy topics and an overview of the Wing service, which the characters learn is faster, cheaper, more secure, and convenient than transferring money through other formal and informal channels.

After hearing the program, listeners called into their local station and asked questions or responded to queries from other listeners. Each of the six live shows aired twice per month for three months. The call-in shows were hosted by a radio presenter based in each station’s studio and were supported by a Wing representative who was available to answer calls and explain the Wing service.

EAI and Wing jointly organized a training program for 81 listening club leaders from five provinces – Banteay Meanchey, Battambang, Prey Veng, Siem Reap, and Svay Rieng. During the course of the trainings, Wing and EAI trainers, supported by Microfinance Opportunities, provided further financial skill building through a program where young people could become Wing Pilots and help sign up new members for the Wing service. All 81 trainees signed up to be Wing Pilots.

To promote participation in the project, EAI held a contest for listeners to develop personal savings plans. 80 participants submitted contest entries and of those, winners were chosen based on the accuracy and strength of their plans.

After only three months, thousands of listeners had sent letters and SMS messages, made phone calls, or attended club meetings to share their ideas about financial topics and the Wing service.