Foxy Chicks: Second Radio Series by loveLife on Y-FM

On Monday, 30 July, loveLife launched the second series of Foxy Chix – an innovative radio series on Y-FM (99.2 FM) – that celebrates the power of female friendship, while offering a platform for young people around the country to express their views, be in control of their destinies and make the best choices for their lives.

Foxy Chix is a story of friendship between three teenaged girls - Noni, Jazz and S’bosh - who are navigating challenges similar to those faced by other young girls in communities across South Africa. The Foxy Chix are funny, ambitious, daring and fall in and out of love on their tumultuous journey to womanhood. They embody an attitude that is foxy – and that isn’t just about being sexy – it’s about being smart, bold, outspoken and destiny-bound.

Foxy Chix - a daily, one-minute radio drama series that culminates in a weekly omnibus every Thursday - was launched on Women’s Day 2011 after extensive research was conducted throughout South Africa to fully understand young South African women. It found that girl groups are highly influential among them and highlighted that they yearned to express themselves and have their voices heard. The research also cited various psycho-social and socio-economic issues - such as transactional sex - driving high risk behavior among young women that fuels HIV.

In fact, a number of biological, social and cultural factors put girls and young women at increased risk of HIV. It is these factors that Foxy Chix seeks to address and explore so as to better empower them against HIV. The show provides a safe space to openly discuss and reflect on a number of sensitive issues in their lives.

Noni, Jazz and S’bosh make up the Foxy Chix who together form part of the popular crew at a township school in a fictional location called Kanjani City.

S’bosh (17), who lives in an informal settlement with her mom and younger siblings, masquerades as someone who has had many sexual partners when she is actually still a virgin. Some believe she’s slept around as is evidenced in the attached clip (LLF-30-015) from series one, where a guy says: “Half of the boys in the school have already had a slice of her. Jazz (16) expresses deep anger and hurt from feeling rejected at home and wants more love and acceptance from her father. Her disruptive behavior sees her engaging in reckless behavior like turning to alcohol to numb her painful feelings and looking for love in the arms of her teacher Mr Goodman Mazibuko. On the other hand, Noni (17) is a techno-savvy, high-achiever who comes from a stable, well-off family.

Foxy Chix forms part of loveLife’s Nakanjani campaign encouraging young people to take charge of their destinies, no matter their circumstances. “The show encourages young people to be in charge of their sexuality and destinies rather than succumb to their circumstances,” explains loveLife’s Media Director, Dianne Regisford-Gueye. “It encourages young people to own their choices and addresses the individual, societal and structural factors putting young people at risk of HIV.”

Each of the Foxy Chix live in the spirit of Nakanjani, carving their own journeys as they move towards a place of self- discovery, learning more about who they are and exploring solutions for a better life. S’bosh discovers that she doesn’t need to be someone else in order to be loved. Noni feels trapped by her circumstances, feeling like her mom gives her no freedom to express her feelings and make her own choices. Her mom’s attitude and behavior is expressed in the attached clip (LLF-30-010) where she says: “There are times when as a parent, you have to do what you have to do. Living in tough circumstances, Jazz demonstrates the Nakanjani attitude of resilience and determination by managing to get her life back on track!

Confident, fun, outspoken and dynamic, the Foxy Chix face a range of dilemmas experienced by many youth in South African communities. Frank and relatable, the show offers a platform for youth expression, speaking to young people’s frustrations, views, attitudes and dreams.

While the first series of Foxy Chix focussed on issues around sex and sexuality such as early sexual debut, transactional sex and teenage pregnancy – all drivers of HIV – the second series addresses structural drivers of the disease such as poverty and unemployment, highlighting topics like youth leadership, youth development, career guidance and youth activism.

In the first series of Foxy Chix, listeners explored the lives of Noni, Jazz and S’bosh, learning about their thoughts, feelings, lives and experiences. They experienced S’bosh being attracted to the King of Izikhotane (guys who wear expensive clothes). We heard how Noni sadly lost the love of her life - Neo - in a drug-crazed drag racing accident and how lucky she was to make it out alive. Full of drama and true-to-life experiences, series one saw Jazz having a sexual relationship with her teacher, Mr Mazibuko and finding out that his wife has HIV. This is highlighted in attached clip (LLF-30-013) where she says: “If she’s positive, then you must be positive.”

Foxy Chix one was broadcast on three platforms - YFM, Ukhozi FM and 20 community radio stations countrywide. Young people who participated in listening clubs in Tembisa and Soweto and those who called in recounted how the story was believable, resonated with them and enabled them to better navigate experiences the Foxy Chix found themselves in.

Now after 100 minutes of fresh, groundbreaking radio, listeners can look forward to following Noni, Jazz and S’bosh in the second series of Foxy Chix. On this new and exciting series, check out how Jazz manages to get her life back on track and hear S’bosh sharing her Nakanjani moment by making moves to get her foot in the door of the fashion world. Noni is hit hard by harsh realities when she finds out Neo wasn’t all he was cut out to be, while also learning that she’s pregnant! The Foxy Chix demonstrate youth activism in a multitude of ways, including holding civil servants accountable for service delivery and organising extra Maths classes for learners whose teacher repeatedly bunks school.

Head of loveLife’s Radio Department, Fikile Ntanzi, says: “Foxy Chix was developed after conducting research which enabled us to reflect, right from a grass roots level, some of the real challenges facing young people in communities. The show explores the issues putting young people at risk of HIV in an accessible, recognisable and entertaining way. “Fictional radio dramas are a powerful platform to engage with young people on sensitive issues as they allow for a safe space to explore very real topics like transactional sex (sex for money, airtime and other goods) and teen pregnancy - all factors contributing to the ongoing incidence of HIV among young women.”
HIV infection spikes in the 18 to 21 year age group for females and 93% of teenage pregnancies occur among 17 to 19 year olds. Foxy Chix forms part of loveLife’s overall efforts to empower young people between 12 to 19 years old with the skills and self-belief they need to stand up to challenges. School leaving is a time putting young women at particular risk of HIV as learners leave the relative security of the school environment. In fact, for young women, half the lifetime risk of infection is crammed into the first five years after leaving school.

Every Thursday, the one-minute soapies broadcast on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday are repeated in an omnibus together with two more Foxy Chix clips. Thursday’s show also features discussions on related topics with listeners and counsellors. Listeners also have the opportunity to continue the discussion on loveLife’s facebook page at loveLifeNGO, Twitter at: @lovelifengo #FoxyChix/#NAKANJANI/#MakeYourMove and www.bozza.mobi - a mobile application featuring Africa’s hottest music, videos, poetry and more.
The second series of Foxy Chix launches on 30 July 2012. The series will feature daily on Y-FM (99.2 FM) and DStv (channel 159) from Monday to Wednesday at 16h45 and an omnibus on Thursdays at 15h30.

In line with its efforts to reduce factors driving the disproportionately high rates of HIV among young women, loveLife is rolling out a variety of combination prevention strategies. Included in these are forming eight Foxy Chix Clubs with six to eight members (boys and girls) between 16 to 19 years old. These clubs will run in KwaZulu-Natal, Eastern Cape, Mpumalanga and Gauteng from September to December 2012. They will give members a user-friendly platform to engage with issues around accessibility, acceptability, perceptions and general use of female condoms. loveLife plans to launch Foxy Chix Clubs nationwide.

 
ABOUT loveLife
loveLife is South Africa’s HIV-prevention programme for young people. Since its inception by leading private funders and the South African government in 1999, loveLife has harnessed youth leadership to promote healthy lifestyles among South African teenagers.
loveLife comprehensively addresses the complex behavioural, social, and structural drivers of risk tolerance among young people through combining a nationwide multimedia campaign with systems strengthening, community-level outreach, and clinical and psychosocial services.

loveLife programmes are led by 18 to 25 year-old groundBREAKERS and mpintshis who work in more than 8,000 schools nationwide from almost 900 bases in loveLife Y-Centres, youth-friendly clinics, social franchises, and other loveLife outlets.
In 2012, major funding for loveLife is provided by the National Department of Health, the National Department of Social Development, and Sports and Recreation South Africa.

loveLife also receives generous support from the Anglo American Chairman’s Fund, Berco, the D.G. Murray Trust, Dewey & Le Boeuf, FIFA Football for Hope, Gauteng Department of Social Development, Gesellschaft für internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), Independent Newspapers, Mpumalanga Department of Social Development, the National Lottery Distribution Trust Fund, Newsclip, North West Department of Social Development, Royal Bafokeng Nation, the South African Broadcasting Corporation, Ster Kinekor, the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and Volkswagen South Africa.