Bolivia
Centro de Educación Permanente Jaihuayco (CEPJA), Cochabamba – South Zone (Districts 8, 9 and 15 Communication for a Culture of Peace and Community Leadership
Founded in 2006 within the framework of lifelong learning policies, the Amistad y Ciencia Cultural Association (ACAC) realised its vision of establishing an educational radio station.
From the outset, Radio CEPJA was conceived as a non-commercial radio station dedicated to promoting critical thinking, civic education, intercultural understanding, the recovery of ancestral values, the protection of rights, and the strengthening of community leadership.
The station was designed as a natural extension of CEPJA’s educational work—not as a separate initiative, but as an integral part of its wider social mission.
To expand education through communication and reach a greater number of people, regions and communities across the Bolivian Altiplano, ACAC developed the “Street Radio” («Radio Callejera») approach.
This methodology takes radio beyond the classroom and traditional educational or cultural settings by engaging directly with communities where people live, work and organise themselves.
Its aim is to build closer relationships with local communities through direct interaction and the co-creation of messages developed with, and for, the people themselves.
Like other digital communication tools, radio extends access to information, strengthens active participation and support the peaceful resolution of conflict.
Within this context, promoting a culture of peace has become increasingly important as a key element of social transformation. Building peace means more than simply preventing violence; it requires creating the conditions for dialogue, solidarity and stronger social cohesion.
Community radio and digital media therefore play a vital role in this process by providing accessible and participatory spaces for communication that can make a meaningful difference to people’s everyday lives.
Challenges and Objectives
Bolivia is currently experiencing a complex political and socio-economic period, shaped by the aftermath of recent elections and the beginning of a new government term. This context presents significant challenges for democratic coexistence and social cohesion.
At the same time, the new legislative cycle offers a genuine opportunity to strengthen community communication as a platform for dialogue, participation and the promotion of a culture of peace.
Within this context, the CEPJA project contributes to building an informed, critical and responsible citizenry by encouraging the participation of a wide range of social actors and promoting community leadership, particularly among young people and communities in the southern districts of Cochabamba.
Through the production and dissemination of radio and digital content, the project seeks to strengthen local leadership by harnessing the potential of young people, women, families, teachers and children as agents of change. At the same time, it promotes a culture of peace, intercultural understanding and respect for diversity of opinion.
The project also aims to restore spaces for dialogue that reinforce the sense of community self-determination rooted in collective memory, while promoting a holistic model of education that encourages critical thinking and informed judgement in the service of the common good.
The initiative contributes to addressing a range of long-standing challenges affecting the southern area of Cochabamba by building on the experience of other organisations working to promote social inclusion, empower women and young people, and improve the quality of education across the region.
Radio CEPJA is distinguished by its integrated approach and its close relationship with local communities, together with its proactive commitment to building strategic partnerships with key stakeholders at both local and national level.
PRO.DO.C.S. contributes to the project by covering part of the costs of training activities and the engagement of specialist educators and communication professionals throughout the 2026–2028 programme period.
