loveLife trains youth in radio, IT

With radio still dominant in South Africa, the radio training has been designed to equip participants with basic skills and knowledge about the broadcast medium, as well as skills in field recording, writing for radio, researching, operating a studio, sound editing and marketing. Several of the organisation's youth centres, including its mobile loveTrain, are equipped with radio studios, where gBs and their peers can develop their skills and narrowcast topics that help them explore their identities and express their views.

Cyber-Y's gBs had skills development sessions with the organisation's youth programmes and IT teams. In its effort to link youth to opportunity, the organisation is conscious of the need for youth to master the basics of IT in today's competitive job market.

"gBs were taught to not only understand how a computer works, but also to familiarise themselves with Microsoft Office applications (including Outlook) and how the internet works, marketing and monitoring and evaluation," says Viyon Hammond, loveLife national programme designer.

Job opportunities reduce infection risks

While the training is over, the gBs will continue with several post-training activities. "The experience doesn't end at the training. For example, they will now have to recruit and train up to 12 Mpintshis (volunteers) who will support them in running radio shows and computer training sessions at youth centres," says Hammond.

Once the gBs have finished their year-long leadership programme with the organisation, they will be offered the chance to get a certificate in radio production with the National Electronic Media Institute of South Africa (NEMISA), a long-standing partner of loveLife.

The gBs will operate from the network of 18 youth centres to give their peers personalised information and skills to support to productive, positive lives. It will also help make them more employable as 42% of South Africans under 30 are not employed.

According to a VOSESA survey conducted with gBs alumni (2001-2005), 90% of the gBs graduates who were employed stated that the programme had strongly influenced their ability to secure employment. This contrasts with the fact that faced with limited prospects and the sense of no opportunity in the immediate future, the organisation has found that youth become more tolerant of risk and therefore more vulnerable to infection with HIV.

To sponsor these programmes, contact Hammond on +27 (0) 11 523 1000 or go to www.lovelife.org.za.