The objectives of the Soul Buddyz Club are to:

• sustain a vehicle through which children between the ages of 8-12 years can become accredited Buddyz members
• use this vehicle to mobilise children to participate in taking responsible action to shape their lives and that of the community, now and in the future
• create an environment for ongoing learning with peer and intergenerational support
• create a forum where children’s needs and voices can be heard
• provide a positive alternative for young people
• to encourage young children to have fun and be creative
• support young people as agents for change
• to provide young people with vital health information, especially around HIV/AIDS and sexuality in order to shift social norms and promote delaying the onset of sexual activity

The Buddyz Clubs promote:

• children as proactive, valuable and productive members of the community
• non-discrimination and gender sensitivity
• the best interests of all children
• respect for the right to life, survival and development
• alternate values to the dominant individual, consumerist set of values
• respect for the views of all children, and
• respect for , exploration and interaction with the environment
• problem solving, encouraging active learning

To date, the clubs activities are structured and influenced by the overall vision and objectives of the project. Clubs are expected to meet regularly, and are also encouraged to use this time to work through the materials which have been supplied to them. Materials include a Soul Buddyz Club guide which contains thematic units with information and activities relating to the specific themes covered in the Soul Buddyz drama. Messages are thus reinforced through these vehicles and means that children have more exposure to the correct information about issues affecting them.

The Clubs meet on average about once a week in schools or in libraries. Where Clubs are highly active and integrated into the school, they meet as often as three times a week. The frequency of Club meetings and activity is also dependant on whether the Club is busy with projects, whether they are involved in other club driven activities and whether there are school projects or exams.

Clubs also engage with an array of newsletters and posters that are sent bimonthly. The newsletters are filled with information bytes about general club activities, national and international health campaigns and fun competitions which children can enter. The posters are more theme specific and are more interactive, encourage children to take some action in their school or community. In essence, Club activities include the following:

• Weekly/bi-weekly Club meetings
• Discussing and debating issues raised in the Soul Buddyz Club monthly newsletter
• Projects relating to various health and development issues, e.g., HIV and AIDS and the impact on Children, Caring for the Environment, Bullying, Nutrition
• Doing research within communities about issues which affect children
• Identifying vulnerable children and families and assisting them in various ways
• Preparing dramas and presenting these within their schools
• Networking with local organisations, e.g. clinics, community radio stations etc
• Monthly and quarterly competitions
• Participating in Club Committee meetings

Over and above the general Club materials that are sent to Clubs to generate activity within Clubs, there are also several other projects in which Soul Buddyz Clubs have been involved. These include hosting international celebrities and representatives from various aid organisations. The visits have included tours of the Club locality, and Club members have shared the history of their communities, challenges facing their communities and also showcased their Clubs projects aimed at addressing some of these problems.

During 2004 Soul Buddyz Clubs also coordinated large scale provincial Club jamborees. The purpose of the jamborees was to facilitate processes where Clubs from various districts within a province could get together. The programme included a host of activities such as fun and entertainment, Clubs showcasing their projects and talents, structured networking sessions as well as formal monitoring.

The principle of child participation has been embedded in the Soul Buddyz Club development process from the onset. Soul Buddyz Clubs are for children, about children and by children. Soul Buddyz is committed to promoting the rights and potential of all children. As part of the development process, a Soul Buddyz Club Children’s Committee was established. The committee was constituted by Club members representing their respective provinces. The committee convened twice a year and were very instrumental in assisting Soul City with research around the Club project as well as planning for activities. The Committee also enables Clubs to share concerns and challenges within their Clubs.

Although Clubs are for children, by children, teachers and librarians have a critical role to play in supporting the development of Clubs. These stakeholders also bring with them a wealth of knowledge and experience in working with children and are in most instances regarded as credible guardians for children.

Teachers and librarians assume a more facilitative and supportive role within Clubs. The primary objective being that children have an adequate level of supervision, support and safety. Communication between Clubs and the Soul Buddyz Club Management Team is also achieved through the involvement of these facilitators.

Parents and the community at large are also encouraged to in turn support facilitators who are supporting clubs. A variety of marketing campaigns and advertisements were implemented to raise awareness of the Soul Buddyz Club and to rally support and involvement among communities.

Children.

The Soul Buddyz Clubs are part of a National project and have representation in all the 9 provinces, with between 180 – 200 Clubs in all of the provinces (as of 2006). The Limpopop province boasts the largest number of Clubs with approximately 600 Clubs in that region. The majority of Soul Buddyz Clubs are located within primary schools. A very small percentage of Clubs are housed within public libraries. A large number of Clubs are within rural and semi rural areas, while a significant number of Clubs located within townships.

Since the official roll out of the Soul Buddyz Club project in 2003, a total of 2,080 Soul Buddyz Clubs have been established at primary schools and libraries across the country in 2006. All Soul Buddyz Club activities are supported by trained educators and librarians who have volunteered to support children. There are 2080 Soul Buddyz Club facilitators and an estimated 12,600 members.