A voice of the community - with the ability to enter homes, cars, and places of work - has tremendous power and influence.

Through Roots FM, the English-speaking Caribbean's first urban-based Community Radio Broadcasting Station, Mustard Seed has the ability to utilise this powerful medium.

A voice in the community can assist in everything from the promotion of healthcare to aiding the local police force in its community relations activities. Such a resource can also aid in dealing with housing problems which may be affecting the residents of cities like Kingston.

The medium of radio can also be beneficial in aiding with conflict resolution and dispute mediation; literacy and numeracy education; promoting health and nutrition advice; providing a business forum and aiding in the creation of "Partner Groups" to encourage saving.

Proverbs and folk songs of Jamaica can be preserved and can assist in the collection, dissemination and preservation of indigenous culture.

The Irish Friends of Mustard Seed Communities is supporting a collaborative project that includes VISION Consulting and ESAT of Dublin to provide technical and other resources to help Mustard Seed Communities to fully integrate use of the internet and modern communications technologies into its operations.

This will also allow Mustard Seed Communities to offer distance learning to its residents and communities and create the ability for Roots FM to transmit its programmes on the internet.