The current Soul City series has a major focus on violence against women. The prime time drama series is currently on air and will be followed by a radio drama on nine SABC stations in nine languages from October - December 1999. Over a million booklets on Violence Against Women will be distributed through our 10 partner newspapers nation-wide during the broadcast period. Additional booklets are distributed through community networks, government departments and schools.

Soul City and the National Network on Violence Against Women (NNVAW) have formed a partnership for this fourth series. The NNVAW will provide support to Soul City audiences and the public at large through a 24 hour, toll-free help line, established together with the Department of Justice. Audiences in need of help will receive on-line counselling as well as referral to ongoing support at community level. A database of all service providers has been compiled by the NNVAW.

STOP WOMEN ABUSE HELPLINE: 0800-150-150

The aim of the Soul City series and NNVAW partnership is to:

1. To raise awareness and debate around violence against women.
2. To shift attitudes and practice on this issue.
3. To inform women of their rights.
4. To connect members of the public to help.
5. To advocate for the timeous and effective implementation of key legislation such as the Domestic Violence Act and to impact on policy to eradicate violence against women.
6. The NNVAW will also co-ordinate community level activities during the broadcast period to extend the impact of the series and advance the advocacy objectives. The partnership is supported by the British Department for International Development (DFID).

Schedule of Broadcast: Every Wednesday at 8:30pm on SABC 1

07/07/99	Episode 1	High Blood Pressure
14/07/99	Episode 2	Date Rape and Sexual Myths
21/07/99	Episode 3	Sexual Harassment at the workplace
28/07/99	Episode 4	Violence Against Women
04/08/99	Episode 5	HIV/AIDS
11/08/99	Episode 6	Domestic Violence
18/08/99	Episode 7	High Blood Pressure
25/08/99	Episode 8	Domestic Violence
01/09/99	Episode 9	Domestic Violence
08/09/99	Episode 10	Young women can be their own tickets to better life
15/09/99	Episode 11	Small Business Development/Youth Entrepreneurship
22/09/99	Episode 12	HIV/AIDS
29/09/99	Episode 13	Even two drinks can affect your driving ability

Soul City is Going Places

Soul City - Institute for Health and Development Communication is a Non-Governmental Organisation whose main purpose is to communicate health issues using an entertainment vehicle. The media used for this strategy are the big three in terms of reach and use - television, radio and print (newspapers). Soul City has been in existence since 1992 and has already produced 3 successful and popular series.

Each series goes through a thorough consultation process with a range of role players and the target audiences, which extends for a period of up to 18 months. One of the underlying messages that run through all the series media is the empowerment and affirmation of women's roles in the society. The series has over the years taken a stand to promote gender equality by placing females in roles which society often reserves for males. This process helps both males and females to realise that roles are dependant on capability not biological sex and that females are as capable as males. This role modeling also helps to re-educate girls and helps them not to undermine themselves or their choices.

One of the main issues dealt with in all the series is HIV/AIDS. One of the ways in which this topic is explored is an examination of how gender relations impacts on the control and spread of this virus. We try to highlight the fact that the more we improve gender relations the greater chance we have to control the spread of the virus.

Soul City has gone a step further to form partnerships with the National Network on Violence Against Women to support the public and women in particular at grass roots level. The details of this partnership are outlined in this article's section on the Soul City 4 series.