Soul Buddyz Series 2 is a communication-centred edutainment initiative launched by Soul City. The series used entertaining media to educate children in the 8-12 year age group on issues such as AIDS (care and support of vulnerable children), substance use, xenophobia, learning disabilities, and the environment. The series consisted of a 26-episode, half-hour television drama, broadcast at children’s prime time on SABC1 between October 2002 and April 2003. The accompanying Soul Buddyz radio magazine programme was broadcast in 9 languages weekly from July to December 2003.

Two out of three children interviewed (81%) had heard of Soul Buddyz 2; 2 out of 3 children interviewed (67%) watched, listened to, and/or used Soul Buddyz material on television, radio, or the Grade 7 booklet. Specifically, 65.8% of children watched Soul Buddyz on television; 30.1%; listened to the programme on the radio; and 28% of children in Grade 7 had read the Grade 7 booklet. Although there was a difference in access to Soul Buddyz 2 television by area (urban 71% and rural 52%), there was no difference in access to Soul Buddyz 2 radio or the grade 7 book by area. Access to Soul Buddyz 2 was similar between girls and boys.

In addition to addressing children, the Soul Buddyz 2 television and radio dramas reached out to parents: 38% of adults watched it on television, and 38% listened to it on radio.

Increased Discussion of Development Issues:

There was an increase in the percentage of children who had ever talked about HIV or AIDS from 57% to 70%. High exposure to Soul Buddyz increased the likelihood of having talked by 51%. Sixty-six percent of children with high access to Soul Buddyz radio sometimes talked to someone about death or dying, while only 37% of those who did not listen to Soul Buddyz radio did.

• 86% of children with high exposure to Soul Buddyz multimedia said that they know what AIDS is while only 60% of those with no exposure said they knew.
• 68% of children exposed to Soul Buddyz print materials said that a person with HIV can look healthy, while 49% of those with no exposure agreed.
• There was an increase from 32% to 43% in those saying that abstaining from sex can prevent one from getting infected with HIV. This was associated with Soul Buddyz 2.
• There was an increase from 49% to 57% of children who knew that you can prevent getting infected with HIV by always using a condom. This was also associated with Soul Buddyz TV.