Kwa-Thema – Tsimong Primary School learners say the Soul Buddyz Club programme has empowered them to create a better learning environment for all.
The youth outreach initiative, inspired by the Soul Buddyz TV series, is active in all nine provinces and targets children aged eight to 14. The programme has been ongoing for over 18 years and focuses on promoting children’s health, rights and well-being through peer-led action.
Its main goals:• Teach life skills related to HIV, TB, alcohol use, GBV and bullying;• Promote sexual and reproductive health rights (SRHR) and gender equality;• Encourage children to take responsibility for their health;• Create spaces for ongoing learning;• Inspire creativity and fun;• Use schools and libraries as community resources.
Trained school teachers run the clubs as extracurricular activities. Facilitators receive learning materials, such as The Zone magazine, unit and facilitator guides, posters and club merchandise to support club activities.
Most participating schools are in quintiles one and two, serving poor communities in rural areas, townships and informal settlements. Learners at these schools do not pay fees and are part of the national school feeding scheme.
Princes Nkosi: As members of the club, we help keep order in the school and help other learners when they need it.
Lesego Nkosi: We help to keep the school grounds clean. There needs to be a safe place for all of us to learn. The activities also teach us why we should not bully others.
Sekhothali Moshoeshoe: We make the school a better place through activities and awareness programmes. I believe that the more activities we do, the more we learn from them and make better decisions every day.
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