Give/Donate/Contribute to Voices

Focus: Advocacy through media.

VOICES was set up in 1991 as a development communications organisation working towards the empowerment of disadvantaged and marginalised sections of society. Their vision is a world without prejudice where people are empowered to make informed choices and live with dignity. They believe that media has a catalytic role in making this a reality.

VOICES runs many community development initiatives, some of the important ones being:

• PROOF (Public records of operation and finance). PROOF is a public campaign that was launched in July 2002 in Bangalore. It aims to create a structure where on the one hand, the Bangalore Municipal Corporation makes public its quarterly performance data, and on the other hand, citizens participate in the process. Public debate and discussions follow the announcement of each quarterly report and provide the opportunity to bring financial accountability and performance measurement into the public space. This initiative acts as a catalyst in the larger process of bringing the government and the public closer. A weekly 15 minute radio slot was also launched as a means of process of dissemination.
• Namma Dhwani is a programme based out of Budikote, a village about 100 kms from Bangalore. The Namma Dhwani cable audio station, managed by members of the local community is perhaps the only one of its kind in the world. Reaching out to the entire community, the project aims to include the excluded. Programmes are made in Kannada, Telugu, and Hindi. Running parallel is the school audio project, where twice a week educational programmes, made by the students themselves, are cablecast to the senior classes at Budikote's only school. The subjects covered include current affairs, local news, music, drama, and general knowledge.

Annual programme budget: Approx Rs. 27. 43 Lakh.

VOICES is a registered charitable trust (650/91-92) and all donations are exempt under Section 80G of the Income Tax Act.