Impact Spotlight

Establishing four new solar-powered community radio stations in rural districts in the Peruvian Amazon

Training twenty local residents to manage and maintain the radio station and solar power equipment

Strengthening local governance and civic participation across the Amazon

About

Founded in 1972, INSTITUTO DE PROMOCIÓN SOCIAL AMAZÓNICA (IPSA) is a grassroots organization serving the northern Peruvian Amazon. Through two educational radio networks and a variety of social channels, IPSA improves communication amongst these remote, primarily Indigenous, regions.

IPSA works closely with its large regional audience to develop and deliver its programs and it is a key source of information gathering and community organizing for an otherwise disconnected area.

The Loreto Region is a primarily Indigenous region that, despite covering nearly ⅓ of the country, has minimal State or National governmental presence. As a result, communities face a range of social problems, including illegal mining and logging, environmental contamination and the presence of armed groups, drug trafficking, and mafias, impacting the safety of the entire area. In an effort to address these issues and increase communication between communities, residents here have requested the installation of local radio stations.

“Climate Change urges an energy transition…Solar energy is a rejection of the power of the oil companies.”

— Miguel Cadenas, Bishop of Iquitos

HF Partnership

With support from the Honnold Foundation and in partnership with the regions’ local churches and authorities, IPSA will install solar powered radio stations in four rural border territories. In addition, they will install central nodes in the cities of Iquitos and Nauta, and together these new stations and nodes will become a broad communications network for the region.

Each radio will be owned by the community’s Catholic Parish and will be maintained by community members. Additionally, communities will identify the main broadcaster for their station, who will be responsible for broadcasting relevant news, advisories and stories.