These letters are not only words and drawing; they represent a subculture of communication. The contribution of this same individual and their letters to illustrate complex issues through simple words and drawing is important through a medium which is supposed to be the simplest form of mass media. A common request in the letters (both national languages, Farsi-Dari and Pashto) to the radio stations is to broadcast the letter and/or the entire letter as oppose to part of it preferred by editorial.

In Afghanistan, radio is by far the most important media and the media most listened to. Local radio stations offer a modern communication tool for the profound oral communication tradition which has thousand years old roots. Media becomes less informal at local level; national or regional media is formal and continues to be a mouthpiece for propagating classical rhetorics. Informal communication may resemble free expression more than anything else. The radio stations not only alter global information into usable knowledge by contextualizing them; but they also enable listeners to participate.

One of the most common ways of participation has been through letters, written with a combination of ideas, personal stories, drawings and common facts. The tradition of community and personal communication through such letters has existed in different parts of Afghanistan; but it has been extensively introduced into mass media only recently after the emergence of local radio stations.

Most of the radio stations introduced radio envelopes which cost around 5 Afs (around 10 cents) and this turned out to be a good source of revenue for the local radio stations. They make on average around US$ 80 from the letters, enough to pay for the technician. Some radio stations designed programs to bring the most frequent correspondents to the radio station so they can talk in person about themselves and their colourful letters and the motives for writing the letters.

As part of Afghan Radio Connect project Internews Europe in partnership with Nai - Supporting open media in Afghanistan in Kabul and ESN (Education for Sustainability Network) in London, is assisting Afghan local radio stations to collect advertising and donations over the Internet from Afghan Diaspora individuals and businesses worldwide.

This project is co-funded by the European Union