Overview

What if hundreds of volunteers all over the country from the Eastern Cape to Limpopo, began working together to try to make a better life for themselves? What difference could they make? Could they make sure that children are not going hungry? Could they reduce violent crime that causes so much pain and damage in our lives? Could they make their communities look better, work better and feel better?

Watch Kwanda, Communities with Soul and you will find out. Kwanda means ‘wealth’ and growth. Brought to you by the people who bring you the wildly popular Soul City drama series, Kwanda is a new kind of television. It’s a community makeover!

A few months ago, volunteer teams were recruited across South Africa. Since then they’ve been filmed as they work together addressing some of the biggest challenges their communities face. They’ve been trying to reduce new HIV infections, trying to help orphans and vulnerable children, reduce alcohol abuse and alcohol related violence, generate income and create job opportunities.

The five Kwanda teams are in:
• Pefferville, near East London, Eastern Cape
• Mthwalume, near Port Shepstone, KZN
• Tjakastad, near Barberton, Mpumalanga
• Lephephane, near Tzaneen, Limpopo
• Kwakwatsi, near Sasolburg, Free State

During the series, audiences will follow the stories of these ordinary people doing some extraordinary things. And, at the end of the series, in a live finale, the television audience will reward the team they believe has made the biggest difference with a major prize. But this isn’t television as you know it. It’s real life and real lives, just like yours. It doesn’t get more real than Kwanda.

Five weeks of intense training

Each participating community chose 50 participants who underwent five weeks of training in a special learning camp. They learnt new skills and how to organise themselves. Ten of the participants from each community underwent training in fashion design and sewing, so that they could become part of the Kwanda Klothing project which will be launched during the TV series. Each team also developed a plan for their community.

Four months of intense action

Kwanda has television teams working in each community following the successes and setbacks of the Kwanda teams as they work to make their dreams a reality.

Be inspired and get involved
 
It’s inspiring television, but Kwanda is more than that. Kwanda is something everyone can participate in. Soul City will provide further information to viewers about how they can participate by taking action in their own communities. We are hoping that Daily Sun will help to involve its readers as well.

Kwanda Week

Kwanda Week runs Wednesday, 18 November – Wednesday, 25 November (Live one hour finale on Wednesday, 25 November 2009) on SABC 1. During this week the audience will vote to decide which team has achieved the most in transforming their own community. That team will receive a major prize.

Sponsors

Sponsors of Kwanda include SABC1, Department of Social Development, Department of Health, BP, MTN, DFID, CDC, Pepfar and Salga.

Contacts for further information and photographs

Onyx Marketing Communications
Georgina Lefifi georgina@onyxmarketing.co.za 082 908 2555
Michelle K Blumenau michelle@onyxmarketing.co.za 083 273 9891 / 011 728 5004