In Southeast Asia's poorest country, and one with a literacy rate of only about 50%, televisions and newspapers are rare commodities. For the majority of Timor-Leste's residents, news and information come by radio. Volunteer-run community radio stations across the country fill this need--one in each of the 12 districts outside Dili and 3 in the capital.

The oldest of these is Radio Timor Kmanek (RTK), founded in 1993 by the Diocese of Dili. Its broadcast area is the biggest in the country, and it plays a major role in disseminating social and political news. With AM and FM signals, RTK reaches listeners across Timor-Leste and into Indonesia's province of West Timor.

RTK broadcasts its programs in Portuguese, Tetum, and Indonesian, offering basic health and education information, news, and music. Among the most popular programs is "Public Opinion," a daily call-in program for listeners to discuss current issues. Indra Monemnesi, RTK's coordinator of production and broadcasting, says that news and public opinion programs were listeners' favorites according to a listener survey completed by the station in September 2003.

Since the beginning of this year, RTK has also been broadcasting a government-produced program once a week. It introduces government activities to the public and responds to questions and issues raised by listeners in "Public Opinion." Monemnesi explained, "The Office of the Prime Minister has appointed a person to listen regularly to our public opinion programs."

USAID's small grants program has supported RTK since September 2000. The most recent grant of $21,000 provided the station with office equipment and computers. With USAID support, RTK can help Timor-Leste's residents better understand their communities and their government and offer them an opportunity to express their views about social and civic affairs.