Celebrating youth, researching current trends

SABC recounts past

The SABC's anniversary celebration will take place at the Albertina Sisulu Hall, Orlando West from 9am to 2pm on 16 June, under the theme 'What have we learned? What are we learning?' Dr Wally Serote, author, poet, politician and the head of Freedom Park will deliver the keynote address, which will be supported on radio and TV.

The event is aimed at teaching learners about South African history and the pain and the sacrifices made by people of their parent's generation

Entertainment for the day includes the SABC Choir led by the talented choral conductor, Thulasizwe Nkabinde, well known maskandi musician Ihashi Elimhlophe and Old School Music. In addition, Metro FM will stage a 'walk for freedom' from Morris Isaackson High School, leaving at 6:30am to Phefeni Junior Secondary School in Vilakazi Street.

Youth discussions on air

Dr Isa van Aardt

During June 2011, the Youth Research Unit (YRU) of the BMR of Unisa will be involved in various research and information sharing projects. Dr Isa van Aardt and Antoinette Basson, researchers at the YRU, will be involved in a discussion panel with Lynette Francis of RSG (Radio Sonder Grense) on 16 June. According to Basson, this will focus on creating awareness amongst youth about online victimisation and the potential potholes to look out for when surfing the Internet or chatting on social networking sites and blogs.

Mobile, drug usage

Antoinette Basson

June will also see the start of two research projects in selected schools in Gauteng. Van Aardt indicated that the first project will explore the current and future use of mobile phones and mobile phone behaviour among the youth. In addition, the study will establish the business models of social media related to the youth, which includes their attitude towards and willingness to pay for products and services on-line, on-line advertisements and how the youth perceive them, including the probability of advertisements resulting in a transaction, knowledge of, attitude towards and behaviour regarding e-commerce, m-commerce and e-wallet (the type of products/services purchased, information used, security and trust perceptions). The project will also explore e-learning and how the youth perceive e-learning as a tool to aid them in their studies.

Goodness Zulu

The second project will focus on drug and alcohol abuse at schools. According to Basson and Goodness Zulu, a YRU researcher, substance abuse places an enormous burden on society and especially on schools. In the light of the 2nd Biennial Substance Abuse Summit held 15-17 March 2011 in Durban, the YRU identified a need to conduct research on drug and alcohol abuse amongst the South African youth.

Overall the project will investigate the extent and effect of drug and alcohol abuse amongst young people in grades 8 to 12. The study will explore factors contributing to substance use and abuse, frequency of use, consequences, including amongst others; youth violence, criminal activities, promiscuous relationships and family disintegration. The study will also explore youth focused intervention and education procedures.

The YRU is also involved in information-sharing activities and will host the first YRU Research Forum on Thursday 23 June 2011. This forum aims to create synergy between individuals and organisations conducting research amongst South African youth.

For more information, go to Bureau of Market Research of Unisa.