The Communication Initiative
Development action with informed and engaged societies
The Communication Initiative
After nearly 28 years, The Communication Initiative (The CI) Global is entering a new chapter. Following a period of transition, the global website has been transferred to the University of the Witwatersrand (Wits) in South Africa, where it will be administered by the Social and Behaviour Change Communication Division. Wits' commitment to social change and justice makes it a trusted steward for The CI's legacy and future.
 
Co-founder Victoria Martin is pleased to see this work continue under Wits' leadership. Victoria knows that co-founder Warren Feek (1953–2024) would have felt deep pride in The CI Global's Africa-led direction.
 
We honour the team and partners who sustained The CI for decades. Meanwhile, La Iniciativa de Comunicación (CILA) continues independently at cila.comminitcila.com and is linked with The CI Global site.
Time to read
2 minutes
Print
a- a+
Published 22 years ago
Last updated 1 year ago
Read so far

Suzie and Shafa Show

1 comment
The Suzie and Shafa Show is a lifestyles variety show created by youth for youth between the ages of 15 and 24. The radio programme airs on the University of Nambia (UNAM) Radio 97.4 FM and can be heard throughout Windhoek. The programmes address different types of lifestyle issues youth face: alcohol and drug abuse, dating, date rape, staying healthy, and avoiding and preventing sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and HIV infection. The aim of the show is to provide youth with the skills and support needed to make healthy choices with regard to lifestyle and behaviour, as well to instil the hope that it is possible to avoid HIV infection.
Communication Strategies

The Suzie and Shafa Show is a partnership between young people and various community organisations which uses communication - through radio - in an effort to create entertaining, provocative, and insightful programmes that reach youth. The format consists of two young hosts, Suzie and Shafa; an ongoing mystery drama; music; quiz questions; testimonials; and a section called "What's Going Down", which highlights an event, restaurant, movie, club, or other activity in which youth can get involved.

Youth participation is a core component of the show; the scriptwriters are students from the University of Namibia (UNAM) and the College of the Arts. The programme addresses the key factors Namibian youth are confronted with today, such as perceptions of risk toward HIV infection and HIV testing. For example, while two-thirds of the youth surveyed said they wanted to be tested for HIV, only about a quarter had ever actually been tested. The Suzie and Shafa Show addresses practical issues such as where to go for HIV testing as well as lifestyle issues related to alcohol and drug use, relationship problems, and sexual habits.

Development Issues

HIV/AIDS, Youth.

Key Points

The Suzie and Shafa show resulted from research conducted by the UNAM and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) on youth and HIV/AIDS. Four pilot episodes were aired in November 2002, and focus group discussions (FGDs) were held based on these 4 episodes. A knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) study and household survey were also conducted. The content and format of the Suzie and Shafa Show were modified slightly based on the results of this research.

The survey of 15-25 year olds in Greater Windhoek found that 60% believed it was possible that they would be infected with HIV during the next 12 months. Though youth felt fairly confident that they could refuse sex without condoms, the majority also believed that they still could get HIV if they were monogamous (51%) and about one-third of the respondents believed they could still get HIV even if they were abstinent. The majority of Namibian youth believe that they will ultimately get the virus that causes AIDS. This is despite high levels of knowledge and awareness about HIV and AIDS and other health issues.

Partners

The show is developed by youth, in partnership with UNAM, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health Center for Communication Programs (JHUCCP), the Media and Technology Studies (MATS) of the Ministry of Basic Education, Sports and Culture. It is supported by USAID.

Sources

Email from Kim Martin of JHUCCP to The Communication Initiative site on February 11 2003.

Comments

User Image
Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Tue, 11/30/1999 - 00:00 Permalink

Here in Malawi we have a radio programme which adresses issues affecting young people. The progamme is called Youth Alert Mix and is aired twice a week on a national radios, Radio 1 and Radio 2. Our main objective is HIV/AIDS prevention among the youths of Malawi. And we help these youths by helping them to delay their first sex debut,and they should try as much as possible to abstain from sex and if they cant they should always use a condom when having sex.My name is Ricky Nyaleye one of the presenters of this massive youth radio programme.

Editor's note: We would like to have information about Youth Alert Mix on the site - please forward us details.