South African Community Radio AIDS Network - South Africa

Activities to Date:

• AIDS Foundation-NCRF Training Workshops: early 2000;
• AIDS Foundation-NCRF Workshop: SA Community Radio AIDS Network established: October 2000, Durban;
• AIDS Foundation-National Community Radio Forum-SANGONeT;
• "AIDS Radio Programming and ICTs (Information and Communications Technologies)" Training Workshop: April 2001, Johannesburg;
• Bush Radio/South African Community Radio Aids Initiative (SACRAI) Workshop: June 2001, Cape Town;
• South African Medical Research Council (MRC) Workshop: July 31-Aug.1, 2001, Cape Town;
• Oct. 2001: South African National Editors Forum (SANEF)-Soul City-Health-e, Department of Health: Training workshop in Johannesburg and Kimberley; and
• Sep. 2001 to date: Developing Countries Farm Radio Network (DCFRN): Sharing of HIV/AIDS scripts and information.Upcoming Activities
• Dec. 1, 2001: World AIDS Day - AIDS Network will work with local NGOs in their communities.

The motto, which is "Try It!", was chosen by participants at the Durban Workshop to call for South Africans to try new types of behaviour to avoid HIV/AIDS; to behave properly towards those who have contracted the HIV virus; and when necessary to live a full life if they are living with HIV or AIDS. Whether the new behaviour is abstinence, using condoms, not disrespecting your partner, not discriminating against someone living with HIV or AIDS, or respecting yourself if you are living with HIV/AIDS, this Network will dare community radio listeners to give it a try. "Be safe - try it!" "Respect your partner - try it!" "Wear a condom - try it!" "Accept those people living with HIV/AIDS - try it!" "Live a long life with HIV - try it!" "Talk about sex with your parents - try it!"

HIV/AIDS.

The National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) is the umbrella body of over one hundred community radio stations in all nine provinces of South Africa that performs lobbying and advocacy for licensing of community radio stations in SA. The NCRF is a membership-driven NGO whose members include community radio initiatives, training providers, and other associated members who work in the same sector. The NCRF coordinates training for its members and offer other essential support for new initiatives in the community radio sector.

For a long time there has been talk about the importance of networking between and among community radio stations in South Africa. This SA Community Radio AIDS Network seeks to ensure that community radio producers become aware of issues and behaviours related to HIV/AIDS, and begin to talk about them.