YATV Africa - South Africa

YATV objectives are rooted within WIF's development communication goals. YATV Africa aims to make television programmes for young Africans between the ages 18 and 25. The programmes are value based, development oriented and made by young people themselves. The project seeks to have the youth of Africa tell their own stories on their own terms.

Africa's Fight Against HIV/ AIDS is a 13-part series of 26 minute long episodes. This series was researched in more than 15 African countries and filmed in 10 African countries. The series is supported by Former President Kenneth Kaunda who is a member of the UN Commission on HIV-AIDS and Former President Jerry Rawlings who is the UN Eminent Person on HIV-AIDS in Africa.

The organisers say the series will be educational and informative, and will aim to not alienate the viewer by being in any way moralistic or judgmental. It will look at the realities facing young people who are infected and those who are caring for people who have AIDS. It will address the issues of prevention and protection and will also deal with the difficult issue of bereavement.

It will take a real life view of children who are infected and those who head households as a result of losing parents and breadwinners. It will explore the myths and stereotypes surrounding the disease and also provide some insight into traditional teachings of sex education in the past and how it has changed in modern society.

Apart from being broadcast on television the programmes can also be used as education tools in schools, clinics, hospitals, health centers and care centres.

It will cover the following 12 subject/themes:

• What is HIV and AIDS
• What is it like to be infected with HIV/ AIDS
• Life Skills/Choices/The three boats
• Abuse of women and HIV/ AIDS
• Addressing Macho man teenagers
• Myths and HIV/ AIDS
• Traditional African sex education – the past and present
• Children with HIV/ AIDS and AIDS Orphans
• HIV/ AIDS and spirituality
• Testing Yes/No?
• Combination therapy
• Bereavement.

Information such as what local care facilities, health workers and medication are available and where will be shared on each programme.

The programmes will be predominantly English i.e. where voice over narratives are required these will be in English. However, the programmes will be multi-lingual. All participants/subjects will be encouraged to speak their own home language/s. The programme will then make use of voice-overs and/or subtitles. It will be more beneficial to South African audiences to make use of voice-overs as the issue of low literacy must be considered. As the programmes will be shown on services outside of South Africa, the use of English becomes more necessary.

Youth, HIV/AIDS, economic development, and rights.

The programmes will explore the following:

(a) What is HIV and AIDS?

what is HIV/ AIDS, where did it come from? how do I get infected? how do you know when you get ill? how the progress of the disease can be measured? Can you do something against the progress of the disease? When is it called HIV and when is it AIDS?

(b)What is it like to be infected with HIV/ AIDS?

How do you notice you are HIV positive? How does it feel when you get the test results and how does it feel when you are told that you are HIV positive? Who are you going to tell? Who is helping you cope with the bad news? What is on your mind when you first start getting ill? What is death? What is being very ill? Who will take care of your responsibilities for children, a partner etc?

A person living with AIDS speak about his/her experiences.

A carer, a partner, a volunteer, a nurse speaks about the disease.

(c) Life skills

How to prevent getting infected, Abstinence? Virgins until marriage? No vaginal sex before a certain age or a stable partner? Being faithful to your partner? Using a condom? How is it used? Is it always safe?

Cooperation with teenagers speaking openly about their sex life, cooperation with Sister Mary Doughan and her skills programme.

(d) Abuse of women and HIV/ AIDS

What does it mean to be a (young woman) in Africa? Can you say no to a man? Do you need a boyfriend/lover? What does it bring you? What if you are abused? What if you are raped? Are the gifts/money that men are giving you for sex more important than your health? Does the abuse of women lead to HIV and AIDS?

Cooperation with young women, women who are raped, abused, and women who are taking gifts from men.

(e) Address the macho man teenagers

How does it feel to have a girlfriend? How does it feel to have more than one girlfriend? Do you want the repsonsibility? Do you believe what your girlfriend is telling you? Do you believe you are HIV negative? With whom have you had sex before? Was it protected sex? What happens to a girl is she gets pregnant and she is HIV positive? What happens when you infect your girlfriend with the virus and she is pregnant and you abandon her?

Cooperation with young men and women who are left alone after being made pregnant, left alone when they found out they were positive?

(f) Myths and HIV/ AIDS

My girlfriend/boyfriend looks healthy, so he can't have HIV/ AIDS. I only enter the vagina of my girlfriend shortly so I can't get infected. He only enters my vagina shortly and is always very clean, we can't get infected. I have HIV/ AIDS this must an evil spirit. A Sangoma can take my HIV infection away. If I sleep with a virgin, my infection will disappear.

Cooperation with with teenagers in the street, what does he/she believe about HIV/ AIDS? Cooperation with Sangoma's what do they teach? Talk with a clergy person/teacher what do they think about sex amongst teenagers?

(g) Traditional African Sex Education in the Past and the Present

How did sex education take place in the traditional African society (Zulu, Xhosa etc)? What were unmarried teenagers allowed to do? Who was teaching sex education? How does sex education take place at present? Who is telling you about sex and what you should and should not do?

Cooperation with Nolwazi Gasa of the University of the Witwatersrand, an expert on Aids and African Culture. Cooperation with teenagers, what have you been told about sex by your mother. teacher, pastor, friends?

(h) Children and HIV/ AIDS and AIDS Orphans

How does a child get infected? When can a child get tested? Is there anything to prevent mother to child transmission? Who cares for children with HIV/AIDS, what is their perspective?

Cooperation with Sizanani Bronkhortspruit, Nazareth House Cape Town. A hospital, a doctor talking about AZT to prevent mother to child transmission. A pregnant mother with HIV AIDS tells about her worries and hopes.

What is an orphan? Is there any bereavement counseling for an orphan who lost parents due to AIDS? Who cares for orphans? An extended family? A foster-parent? An institution? What is the future of a child without parents? Who takes care? What happens to orphans who have to become breadwinners?

Talks with orphaned children, talks with extended families, with foster parents. A view of an institution for orphans, how is life there? Cooperation with the Catholic Bishops Aids Desk, government plans. How does a township react – Winterveld as an example. Who is assisting orphans who are heading households?

(i) HIV/ AIDS and Spirituality

How do religious beliefs and spiritual practices approach people living with HIV/ AIDS? Do people who are infected believe that God loves them? Does religion and spiritual practice ease the pain of HIV/ AIDS sufferers? How are the major religions addressing the disease – African traditional religious groups, Christianity, Islam, Judaism, Hinduism.

Cooperation with people from different religious backgrounds who are infected, relating their experiences. Cooperation with major religious leaders and spiritual leaders.

(j) Testing Yes/No?

Should I take a test? What are the pros and cons on having a test? If I take a test, do I go to get the results alone? Who can I trust? What happens after I know the results? Who can help?

Cooperation with hospitals, social workers, nurses. talks with teenagers, what on their mind and what influences their decision? Who goes with you to get the results, who do you trust?

(k) Combination Therapy

What is combination therapy? when do I need it? what can it do for you? is it accessible? Can we stop worrying about HIV/ AIDS because combination therapy is available? What is the alternative medication to combination therapy?

Cooperation with people living with HIV/ AIDS who are not using any medicine. those receiving anti-biotics and those who are on combination therapy. Cooperation with TAC about the medical infrastructure.

(l) Bereavement

What happens to you if you lose a partner, parent, child, brother, sister, friend, relative to HIV/AIDS? Does life just go on? How a funeral is leaded? Do you tell the truth? Who can help you after such a big loss? Is it better to forget about everything and just go on? Rituals? Special days? How do you cope after more than one many family member or friend?

Cooperation with persons who have lost their loved ones infected or affected, talks to psychologists and pastors'.