Sutatenza - The home town of the community radio
The entrance to Machetá
Snapshot
• Guateque is a significant town due to its location at the junction of highways connecting to the Colombian plains.
• In the 1940s and 1950s, a priest named Monsignor José Joaquín Salcedo Guarín established a rudimentary radio station in Sutatenza, which evolved into the Escuelas Radiofónicas, a highly successful radio education program that combated illiteracy and improved the lives of peasants in various aspects.
• The program's success led to its replication in 24 countries across four continents.
• Today, Sutatenza is known for the community radio innovation and its street art dedicated to ACPO and Monsignor Salcedo Guarín, commemorating the town's role in this remarkable educational initiative.
A map of Tenza valley showing its location and the principal municipalities. Follow the route from Machetá on the left
Sutatenza - The home town of the community radio
The road from Sisga to Machetá further towards Guateque is narrow and has a lot of curves. Remember we are going downhill from about 2700 meters above sea level in Choconta to about 2100 meters in Machetá in just about 25 kilometers.
Guateque is further downhill at 1800 meters above level in another 27 kilometers. Hence there is a lot of curves in the narrow road with steep descent. Add landslides to the mix and this makes the road an exciting route to drive.
One of the more fascinating scenes of the region is the cultivation of coffee and fruits. This is one of those regions that do not get noticed for Colombian coffee, however, the coffee from here is very good.
Coffee plants in Somondoco
Reaching Guateque would be the second stop of the trip. Normally we stop for breakfast in a wonderful wayside restaurant called Spot Ruta 55 on the outskirts of Gachancipá.
Guateque is the capital of the eastern boyacá province for a reason - An important junction in the highway that eventually connects with the colombian plains.
Main church of Guateque, the second biggest town in Tenza valley
The main plaza of Guateque
From Guateque, Sutatenza is a short 15 minute bumpy ride away. From Sutatenza, there are further dirt roads to Tenza, La Capilla and Somondoco.
Main church of Sutatenza overlooking Somondoco in the distance
Back in the late 1940s and early 1950s, radio was considered as a medium for entertainment. Illiteracy amongst villagers and farmers was a real issue here in the region. A young priest that was recently posted in the parish of Sutatenza Monsignor José Joaquín Salcedo Guarín had other ideas.
The radio school was founded in this house which now serves as a museum
He built a rudimentary radio station focussed on local music and spirituality and it received good reception amongst the peasant community of the province. Eventually he founded the Escuelas Radiofónicas - Radio schools supported by Acción Cultural Popular, ACPO - Popular cultural action group which focussed on a program aimed at improving the life of the peasant on five fronts: health, alphabet, number, economy, work and spirituality, without separating them from their plot and increasing their knowledge of agriculture and cattle raising;
Sutatenza stereo is a popular radio station of this region
This program was so successful and was so popular in lifting people out of illiteracy that this was replicated to great success in 24 countries across 4 continents, including India. It amazes me to think that the idea of rural education was born in this little town.
Today a lot of street art in Sutatenza is dedicated to the work of ACPO and Monsignor José Joaquín Salcedo Guarín. To think that such a grand scale project had its roots here in Sutatenza and millions of those that benefited from this program.
A street art dedicated to Monsignor José Joaquín Salcedo Guarín
Street art with the radio set occupying a prominent place
We have barely scratched the surface of Tenza valley and there is much to explore here including other municipalities of the region.
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