The Soul Buddyz project was launched in 1999, building on the successful multimedia strategy of the Soul City series. While the Soul City series is popular with all ages, its messages were not designed specifically for a very young audience, particularly 8 to 12 -year-olds. Soul Buddyz has been developed specifically with this age group in mind because attitudes are often formed during this critical time and yet, in the context of a rapidly transforming society with technological changes as well as social changes, the needs and aspirations of children between the ages of 8-12 years old are often neglected. Emotional and health problems often originate or become embedded in this age group, with social problems such as physical and sexual abuse severely retarding the potential of many children.

Soul Buddyz embraces the principles of the International Convention on the Rights of the Child, which the South Africa Government has ratified and signed. According to the Convention:
"The child has the right to the highest standard of health and medical care attainable. States shall place special emphasis on the provision of primary and preventive health care, public health education and the reduction of infant mortality."

In addition the aims of child education are as follows:
"Education shall aim at developing the child's personality, talents and mental and physical abilities to the fullest extent. Education shall prepare the child for an active adult life in a free society and foster respect for the child's parents."

The Soul Buddyz is an ongoing vehicle, dealing with a number of health and development issues over time. All the issues dealt with in the series are framed within the South African Constitution and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child. A number of underlying issues are emphasised:

The Soul Buddyz television series is broadcast on SABC 1 - South Africa's most popular television channel. It is a 26 part drama series and each episode is approximately 26 minutes long. The drama centres around a group of children who meet after school in a park. They represent children from all walks of life and they form a firm bond. This group - the Soul Buddyz - have to deal with issues that children are facing every day of their lives. They help each other and work for their community, while having lots of fun.

At the end of each episode of Soul Buddyz there is a two-minute sequence of real children's comments about the issues that Soul Buddyz raises -- this is called the "Buddyz Buzz" and helps give some African children a voice to express their opinion on important issues affecting them. [Visit www.sabceducation.co.za]

Soul Buddyz Radio
Soul Buddyz radio is a groundbreaking project as there is very little radio in South Africa for children of this age (8 to 12 years). The format of the radio is 26 half hour programmes consisting of a ten minute drama with child protagonists, five minutes of documentary information inserts for both adults and children, and 15 minutes of interactive talk (a phone in show hosted by a young person).

Soul Buddyz Print: Grade 7 Lifeskills Book
This book is designed to be a user-friendly information and activity resource for Grade 7 learners. Written in module form and illustrated with the popular characters from the television series, each module has a photo comic story relating to the television story. This is followed by number of activities and information about the key topics. The booklets are distributed to all Grade 7 children in South Africa.

Soul Buddyz Parenting Book
A user-friendly parenting booklet accompanies the Soul Buddyz series. Over half a million booklets are distributed through the Sunday Times newspaper (a national weekly newspaper in South Africa) and through non-governmental organisations.

Soul Buddyz research and evaluation
As with all material developed by the Soul City Institute for Health and Development Communication, the Soul Buddyz project is carefully researched and evaluated.

Each series is independently evaluated. The evaluation of Soul Buddyz 1 indicated that the project reached two out of three children between the ages of 8-13 years and successfully impacted on knowledge, attitudes and practices of those exposed. The project was also positively received by parents and teachers alike. It is clear from the first evaluation that, if sustained, Soul Buddyz has the potential to effect powerful change in a future generation of youth and adults. Full evaluation reports are available on Research and Evaluation page of the Soul City website.

Soul Buddyz Clubs
The Soul Buddyz Club concept emerged after the tremendous success of the first series of Soul Buddyz - many children began to ask how they too could become a "Soul Buddy". Soul Buddyz clubs are fun and safe places where young people can get together to learn, enjoy and contribute to their communities. Based in schools and libraries across South Africa, the club concept is destined to take young South Africa by storm. For more details, visit "Soul Buddyz Club" on this website.

"Two in three South African children reported that they had watched, listened to or used the media material of the first series of Soul Buddyz."

"90.5% of parents exposed to the Soul Buddyz material, felt that Soul Buddyz made it easier for them to discuss difficult and sensitive issues with their children wards. A similar proportion of teachers agreed with this statement."

"Soul Buddyz is a good teacher to our children and to our community. It is a community builder in a great way." (Periurban parents)

"It (Soul Buddyz) has changed away I interact with my friends, parents and people in the community; I have learned to be more respectful and I have learned to talk about things that are of great concern to me or hurt me."