Literacy in the Aftermath of La Violencia: Assessing the Impact of Radio Sutatenza on the Llanos of Colombia, 1950–80

During its heyday, Acción Cultural Popular--Radio Sutatenza, a unique campaign begun in 1947 by Padre José Joaquín Salcedo, to use radio to teach illiterate adult campesinos throughout Colombia to read, write and improve their living conditions, was closely studied and copied by other countries in Latin America and Africa.  The published bibliography concerning ACPO is immense, yet since its archives have recently become accessible to researchers, many aspects of the program remain to investigated.  The purpose of this study is to analyze its impact on the frontier Department of Meta in the aftermath of the Violencia, taking into account the situation of the region, the efforts of the Archdiocese of Villavicencio to support the movement, the participation of Llaneros in ACPO activities, and the problems which eventually contributed to its demise.