A nonprofit community action agency, BusinesStart, provides business training and small loans to entrepreneurs in 18 rural counties in southwestern Virginia and northeastern Tennessee. The entrepreneurs, many with no previous business experience, cite the agency's basic business training as key to their success. (SV)

A variety of topics related to innovative uses of media in international development are addressed in this newsletter, which includes the following articles: "The Radio Mathematics Project: New Examples of Technology Transfer," by Klaus Galda; "An Overview and Guide: Planning Instructional Radio," by Maurice Imhoof;…

Directed at the chronically unemployed, poor single parents, and welfare recipients, microenterprise programs provide access to loans and technical training for the express purpose of creating small-scale self-sufficient entrepreneurs no longer dependent on public support. Lessons from international microenterprise programs, federal funding…

Discusses the use of video and local television for community development in developing nations, taken from his report, "Television for Development: The African Experience." Highlights include the use of media by untrained people, the importance of communication, the need for political support, and the advantages and disadvantages of…

Describes the video program of Zimbabwe's Department of Agricultural, Technical, and Extension Services (Agritex), which produces and distributes training aids for extension staff, farmers, and ministries involved in rural development. Main problems with use of video in Agritex are discussed, and recommendations are offered for improving the video…

This report summarizes 1993 activities of the Inter-American Foundation (IAF), an independent agency of the U.S. government. The IAF promotes equitable and participatory self-help development in the Caribbean and Latin America by awarding grants directly to local grassroots organizations and small enterprises, as well as to larger organizations…

Several of the new agricultural universities in India have identified a special need to improve their communication capabilities through the better use of the mass media and other channels to narrow the communication gap between agricultural scientists, educators, and farmers. This paper discusses the basic concept, goals, administration,…

A Hopi-owned and operated solar energy company develops energy independence for various American Indian tribes in the Southwest and creates jobs on the reservation while staying true to the Hopi holistic world view. The company holds hands-on workshops to educate visitors, customers, and secondary students on how solar electric facilities work,…

Summarizing Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) activities and achievements during the October 1976-September 1977 fiscal year, this fourth annual report indicates that SRDC has been able to support rural development programs at land-grant institutions through sponsorship of workshops; issuance of publications, bibliographies, and a quarterly…

Summarizing Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) activities during the October 1977-September 1978 fiscal year, this fifth annual report indicates that with Title V funding SRDC has continued its efforts to bring research and extension personnel together to work on problems in rural development. Support for programs and research at land grant…

Designed to inform the public of rural development programs and services in the State of New Mexico, this directory presents over 100 program summaries, providing mailing addresses and telephone numbers and naming the agency, the specific program thrust, the Officer in Charge, and other contacts. Both an alphabetical and functional index are…

The Southern Rural Development Center (SRDC) is one of four regional rural development centers in the nation. SRDC coordinates rural development research and extension education programs cooperatively with the 29 land-grant institutions in 13 Southern states, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. This annual report outlines activities undertaken by…

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), an independent agency created by Congress, funds local private organizations that support the self-help efforts of the poor in Latin America and the Caribbean. In fiscal year 1988, IAF approved 208 new grants, 173 grant supplements, and other program activities totaling nearly $25 million. The average grant…

Amid the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Brazil was the Global Forum, a gathering of representatives of more than 9,000 nongovernmental organizations (NGOs). Brazil's array of NGOs and grass-roots support organizations began developing in the early 1960s. The "pedagogy of the oppressed" developed by Paulo…

The Inter-American Foundation (IAF), an independent agency created by Congress, funds local private organizations that support the self-help efforts of the poor in 25 Latin American and Caribbean countries. In fiscal year 1989, IAF approved 208 new grants, 175 grant supplements, and other program activities totaling over $25 million. The average…