Social Justice

On the 11th of August 2016 Soul City Institute relaunched itself to become a Social Justice organisation that focusses on Young Women & Girls and the communities they live in. An organisation that is, a pillar of strength, support and hope for a new dawn. An organisation that ensures that young women & girls, have equal access to resources that enable them to self-actualise and reach their full potential and take their rightful place in society. An organisation that promotes a just society and ensures equal treatment and respect for basic human rights.

Why Social Justice?

• Despite legislative efforts, South Africa remains a patriacal society, where women have been discriminated against, from disenfranchisement to various forms of abuse. The oppression of women has also been promoted by cultures, social system’s and religion.
• In South Africa discrimination against women was also compounded by the apartheid system, which resulted in triple oppresion for black women in terms of race, gender and class or other factors.
• In terms of socio - economic empowerment and gender equality, women have not advanced rapidly and remain the worst affected by inequality, poverty and unemployment. Furthermore, serious gender –related challenges persist, including unacceptable levels of gender based violence.

Vision: To create a just society in which young women and girls are safe, and have the opportunities to enable them to reach their full potential.

Mission:

• -To be a social justice organisation for young women and girls and the communities they live in.
• -To be an organisation that ensures that young women and girls enjoy equity, which enables them to access to access opportunities and ensures that they reach their full potential.
• -To be an organisation that promotes a just society, which challenges injustice and ensures equitable treatment, where all people share a common humanity, and respect for their human rights and a fair allocation of resources.

Values:

• -Social Justice
• -Equity
• -Respect
• -Ubuntu ( Humanity)
• -Compassion
• -Support
• -Working together

Origins:

Established in 1992, when South Africa was on the brink of democratic change, Soul City has remained a health promotion organisation, subscribing to the principles of the World Health Organisation’s Ottawa Charter. According to the charter, health is a product of a range of actions that include building an enabling environment, advocacy for healthy public policy, community action, developing personal skills and re-orientating health services towards the health promotion approach.

• -Their award winning edutainment television drama series, Soul City Its Real highlights social and health issues and possible solutions using real stories their audience can relate to.
• -Their OneLove campaign aims to contribute to the National Strategic Plan on HIV by reducing new HIV infections and encourages you to start thinking about and talking about sexual behavior and the effects of Multiple and Concurrent Partnerships (MCP) on your life and society at large. OneLoveTalk is a community television talk show that continues to explore relationships and sexuality in this time of HIV.
• -Working with volunteers they train and develop working sustainable communities through their world-first community makeover reality programme Kwanda.
• -Kwanda Talk takes this further by holding community conversations with communities around the country about how they can look better, work better, live better.
• -The PhuzaWize programme tackles one of society’s greatest ills, alcohol, as they advocate for safer and healthier communities.
• -Soul Buddyz children’s Television series gave rise to Soul Buddyz Clubs where children and adults work together to create a platform that gives voice to and promotes real community action for and by children towards their health and wellbeing.
• -Act for Children encourages children to become active development agents within their communities and develop children’s financial literacy.
• -Untold and Love Stories in a Time of HIV and AIDS series are both part of the regional project which is a partnership with ten organizations in the SADC region. Following extensive research in the region that highlighted shared social issues, the series which was overseen by Soul City, consists of short films from the Southern African region that tackle the impact of HIV/AIDS on families and the risks associated with Multiple and Concurrent Partnerships.
• -Their partnership with the Wits School of Public Health which launched a Social and Behavior Change Communication Masters in Public Health (MPH), is building African capacity in the field which in turn will aid in society’s development and dealing with health and social issues.