U.S. Embassy Brasília Grant for Podcast Training for Quilombola Communities

The U.S. Embassy Brasília, Brazil announces an open competition for organizations to submit applications to carry out a program to teach 30 representatives of Quilombola communities from different parts of Brazil on the creation, production, monetization, and dissemination of podcasts to spread their voices to communications platforms in other parts of Brazil and the world. 

Program Objective :

Experts already consider the podcast one of the most powerful media tools available. A podcast is a collection or series of digital audio files made available for downloading or streaming. Podcasts are typically hosted by an individual or individuals who lead a conversation, share stories, or report the news. Podcasts are already one of the largest and fastest growing tools used by Brazilians to keep themselves informed.

Beginning with the bicentennial of the Independence of Brazil, celebrated on September 7, 2022, the U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil is supporting the development of a new series that gives voice to the Quilombolas in the country, giving them the opportunity to tell their stories, collective memory, and cultural heritage with the project “These Brazilian Lives”.

In Brazil, according to the Palmares Cultural Foundation, there are 3,447 Quilombola communities distributed throughout all regions of the country. The Quilombolas are a racial-ethnic group formed by descendants of runaway slaves during slavery and other groups that lived in the Quilombos. The Quilombolas have their own identity, which forms the basis of their historically built social and cultural organizations. In many ways, these communities are distinct from the rest of Brazilian society. 

 For years the Quilombolas suffered from discrimination and the non-recognition of their right to ownership of their land. Today, the ethnic identity of these communities is legally recognized and protected, although many are still under-represented. 

The podcast training is a skill-building opportunity and aims to teach 30 representatives of Quilombola communities from different parts of Brazil on the creation, production, monetization, and dissemination of podcasts to spread their voices to other parts of Brazil and the world. The scarcity of information about their communities in Brazil and elsewhere can be alleviated by encouraging the creation of high-quality storytelling podcasts, giving voice to often ignored communities and advancing equity. 

The project is aligned with Biden-Harris administration priorities, in particular the advancement of racial equity and support of underserved communities, outlined by the Executive Order 13985 signed on January 20, 2021. The program will be conducted mostly online and with a duration of at least 3 months, by an educational or journalism training group. The training will focus on (1) the theory, practice and exchange of experiences that includes Brazilian and U.S. podcast producers, and (2) a 3-day in-person event, during which the participants will be able to finalize, edit and present their first podcasts, which would be incorporated into a nationwide database made available to media outlets and individual users across the country. 

This funding opportunity will allow the implementing organization to help U.S. Embassy and Consulates in Brazil: 

• Develop and implement comprehensive, online training so that participants can have the required skills and background knowledge to start and maintain their own podcast series; 
• Select the best online platform to deliver the training; 
• Build technical capacity for participants to create diverse podcasts and programs that are informative, financially viable, and sustainable; 
• Identify better ways to promote the podcasts; 
• Design graphics and necessary material for promotional purposes; 
• Screen and pre-select candidates; 
• Contact and arrange for Brazilian and U.S. podcast producers/presenters to give workshops and exchange experiences during the training; 
• Contract simultaneous interpretation services, as needed, and technical support for the online training; 
• Design, organize and implement the in-person event in Brasilia. The location of the event can be identified and proposed by the implementing partner; 
• Coordinate and purchase participants’ in-country travel, make hotel and venue arrangements, select and hire catering service, include travel insurance during the in-person event; 
• Include a COVID-19 mitigation plan and specific measures; 
• Enable interaction among Quilombola communities from different regions of the country; 
• Provide advice/support for the participants as they work to implement the podcasts developed during the program; 
• Develop criteria to select the best 5 podcasts to win high quality mobile phones and studio quality microphone to encourage continuity of the podcasts.