02 Apr 2019

Makgabaneng, a behavioural change communication organisation, in collaboration with National AIDS Coordinating Agency and UNICEF, has launched a new radio programme dubbed Shuga.

Makgabaneng’s mass media and marketing manager, Matlhogonolo Motshegwa said Shuga was aimed at empowering adolescents and young people to make necessary changes in their lives.

It would be aired on RB2 at 10am every Saturday.

Motshegwa said the Makgabaneng team, together with other stakeholders, would be going around the country to sensitise young people about the drama and to encourage them to listen to it.

Makgabaneng held road shows at Mmadinare and Selibe Phikwe and would hold others in Letlhakane and Orapa.

The 15-episode drama, she said, would run for 13 weeks and  after the airing of the drama, there would be an in-studio discussion about the drama to instill positive behaviours amongst young people.

The drama is expected to address issues regarding HIV prevention and care, multiple and concurrent partnerships and condom use among others.

Shuga, which has nine young characters, will be using real life scenarios within the community to convey the message.

“We also do this in partnership with local stakeholders like the District Health Management Team, local artists in the likes of Phologolo, KZX and Beat Killer as well as Figos,” she said.

The project has also been broadened to include in school activities which will target junior secondary schools in Selebi Phikwe.

Motshegwa said Makgabaneng’s peer educators would distribute and discuss the comic strips from the Shuga drama with pupils.

The main objective, she said, was to gather as much information as they could and forward it to NACA to see how best the issues that emerged during discussions could be tackled to enhance behavioural change.

Makgabaneng was launched in 2001 and is well known for its popular radio drama Makgabaneng and television drama Mareledi. Ends