Basha Lesedi Project: Radio Drama Listener Group Facilitators Guide

This guide was produced to help facilitators lead discussions on each episode of the Basha Lesedi radio drama, and to provide episode synopses, tips on facilitation, and guidance on planning and implementing sessions. The Basha Lesedi radio programme is a continuing story about a fictitious community in Botswana which shows how the main characters manage the relationships and challenges in their lives, and follows them through a gradual process of change in awareness, attitude, and behaviour. The serial drama tells stories about difficult situations faced by key characters in adopting safer HIV related behaviours. For instance, there is a storyline about a young girl getting a sexually transmitted infection (STI) and another about a young man getting into trouble at school and with the police.

The drama demonstrates how characters can prevent HIV transmission, support people who are living with HIV, and communicate more effectively with parents/caregivers. Together the radio programme and this listener discussion group (LDG) guide strive to generate, and sustain, dialogue among youths and adults around issues that are considered sensitive in most parts of Botswana. Through modeling the drama hopes to show the audience how to adopt similar positive behaviours. It also shows how some people fail to adopt these target behaviours and the consequences of that failure. Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Botswana (BOTUSA), the Basha Lesedi Project (BLP) was a five-year programme led by Family Health International (FHI 360) in partnership with Botswana Network for AIDS Service Organisations, Botswana Network for People Living with AIDS, Botswana Christian AIDS Intervention Programme, Makgabaneng, Humana People to People and Stepping Stones International.

The guide contains information related to the 48 episodes of the radio drama (which is recorded in Setswana) and is divided into the following chapters:

• Introduction
• Why use a radio drama and listeners discussion groups?
• Key characters in the radio drama
• Purpose of this guide
• Who should use the radio drama?
• Organising listener discussion groups
• Preparing for listener discussion group sessions