| NATIONAL COMMUNITY RADIO
FORUM (NCRF) AIDS NETWORK
For a long time there has been talk about the
importance of networking between and among community
radio stations in South Africa. However, talking
is not enough if there is no action or implementation.
The NCRF AIDS Network seeks to ensure that community
radio producers act by sharing and exchanging
programming on HIV/AIDS issues.
Formation of the Network
Prior to the International AIDS Conference in
Durban in July 2000, producers from NCRF stations
were given training on HIV/AIDS and other related
health issues, sponsored and facilitated by the
AIDS Foundation, based in Durban. After the workshops,
the participants strongly felt that the South
African community radio sector needed to play
an active role in fighting the pandemic. South
Africa and other countries in the southern African
region have some of the highest levels of HIV
infection in the world. And so, the South African
Community Radio HIV/AIDS Network was born. The
basic structure of the Network was formulated
at a workshop in October 2000. Again, it was the
AIDS Foundation that funded and facilitated the
process. But now it was time for the stations
to take the lead.
Network Objectives
The station producers at the meeting committed
themselves to:
- playing an active role in fighting the HIV/AIDS
pandemic .
- increasing their production of HIV/AIDS programming
at their stations
- producing local programming together with
their local clinics, schools, NGOs, CBOs, youth
clubs, women and local branches of the South
African National Association of People Living
With HIV/AIDS (NAPWA);
- sharing their script and audio programming
with each other via fax, cassette exchange through
post, and e-mail where possible.
- Linking with local clinics, schools, NGOs,
CBOs, youth clubs, women and local branches
of NAPWA in other non-radio communications projects
such as festivals, poster campaigns and plays.
The stations, through their producers, are the
“owners” of the Network. It is up
to them to make it happen. The NCRF, as the umbrella
body for community radio stations in South Africa,
supports the Network producers through co-ordinating
the Network's partnerships for programming and
training. As an organisation that strives for
the development of the community radio sector
and broader civil society, the NCRF encourages
the Network's producers to do local programming
together with their local clinics, schools, NGOs,
CBOs, youth clubs, women and local branches of
NAPWA.
The Motto: “Try It!”
The motto, chosen by participants at the Durban
Workshop in October 2000, is a call for young
South Africans in particular to try new types
of behaviour that can help them: -- to avoid HIV/AIDS;
-- to behave sensitively towards those who are
HIV-positive; -- to live a full life if they are
living with HIV or AIDS.
Examples of possible new behaviours include:
respecting and loving your partner, accepting
and working together with people living with HIV/AIDS,
respecting and loving yourself if you are living
with HIV/AIDS, always using condoms when having
sex, and abstaining from sex until one has found
a long-term partner. Whichever new behaviour is
needed, this Network aims to dare community radio
listeners to “Try It!”:
For more information, contact:
Manana Monareng - Communications Manager on 082
534 6752 Visit 1st Floor Cosatu House Building,
1-5 Corner Biccard and Leyds Streets, Braamfontein,
Johannesburg, South Africa, or post a letter to
Suite 109 Private Bag X42, Braamfontein, 2017,
Johannesburg, South Africa PHONE: 011 403 4336,
FAX: 011 403 4314, e-mail : info@ncrf.org.za
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