Like most people in SA up until this week every Tuesday you'd find me glued to the HIV edu-drama Intersexions on SABC 1. So it was with a heavy heart that the fans of this brilliant show had to say goodbye to undoubtedly one of the best series to ever be produced for welfare tv - like in forever!
If however you were under a rock and missed it...
you can check out the rest here
So this afternoon as I pondered a Tuesday night without my fave show it dawned on me that what had happened with Intersexions was pretty epic!
It's hard to believe (but reassuring) that we the (predominantly black) youth of South Africa spent the last few months actually actively engaged in HIV activisim, with our blogs, tweets, taxi debates and water cooler conversations we spread the message and engaged with HIV/Aids and hopefully contributed to a change in attitudes and maybe, just maybe even behaviour. That's the power of great storytelling...
The eternal optimist in me also believes that as awesome as what happened every Tuesday for the last few weeks has been there is also no reason why this culture of activism has to stop so I compiled a list of things you could do every Tuesday (from the comfort of your home) that could potentially change your world.
1. Rent Yesterday
Like Intersexions it's a movie that brings the reality of HIV/Aids home in a real way. Better yet why don't you invite those imbecilic friends, cousins, boyfriends etc. who still refuse to get tested over for a viewing party - we'll call it pursuasive entertaining.
2. Host a charity dinner
I've always loved a good meal and friends gathered around a table! But why not take it one step further and do it for charity. Instead of bringing a bottle of wine why not ask your friends to bring old clothes, blankets, pet food whatever, and donate these to a local home or charity. With winter upon us loads of people are collecting for various causes. Better yet you can integrate your adopted charity into the theme of the party e.g. a book club night with an actual book drive, a sushi party in aid of Japan or soup mixer to raise funds for a soup kitchen! (yes I was an events manager in a previous life). The ForGood website is a great resource for finding charitable organisations in your area.
3. Ignite the social flame
My new buzz word is social entrepreneurship: the idea that an individual can become successful but on the way there raise her village too is fascinating me, so I've been doing some reading and researching on the subject and found these two books that are my definites on the "recommendations for getting inspired list":
Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference by Malcolm Gladwell
The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind: Creating Currents of Electricity and Hope by William Kamkwamba, Bryan Mealer
4. Donate a klipa
The Lonely Road Foundation always does such awesome work (their founder Thabang is a GQ Best Dressed Man - yes I would have noticed). This year they've taken it upon themselves to provide each of the 2500 orphaned and vulnerable children they work with at Ga Dikgale Community (that's in rural Limpopo), with a good quality, warm blanket and a snood (scarf and beanie in one) - yes warm and on trend these kiddies will be - I love it! All they need is for you to give a 100 bucks by clicking here. Thanks to internet banking you can do it while you snuggle up under your warm blanket tonight!
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