HATMAL is committed to disseminating information and changing behaviour in regards to HIV/AIDS, TB, Cholera and Malaria targeting young people through edutainment projects. Ekasi is the first HATMAL project, which is the comic that puts various HIV/AIDS messages across, and this is indeed a highly effective way of engaging young people. The eKasi comic continues to insight many young and old people into the joys of reading.
From reading comes learning. From learning comes behavioural change, or it at least puts us in touch with informed choices we can make to prevent the further spread of HIV/AIDS.
Hatmal Trust (a registered non profit NGO under section 21 of South Africa) was established in April 2002 by Strika Entertainment Pty Ltd(The Founder) in consultation with the Gauteng Department of Health, and other NGO's operating in the public health arena. Strika is a company that develops, and distributes the "SUPA STRIKA" -which is a soccer and life-skills comic distributed in the South Africa's largest circulating Sunday newspapers.
The objective of Hatmal is developing and distributing compelling mass media entertainment initiatives that promote positive social and behavioural change, especially in the areas of HIV-AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (H-A-T-MAL).
The popular eKasi comic is distributed as a free supplement to the Daily Sun (South Africa's fastest growing daily newspaper) every last Friday of the month. eKasi is the serialised story of Thandi, a young HIV-positive girl, who becomes a co-host on a radio talk show after breaking the silence by telling her own tragic story on air.
eKasi consists of the monthly comic book and a weekly interactive radio talk show hosted by Rudeboy Paul and Unathi, featuring our very own Joe Manciya(Program Director) as a regular guest and Producer, on YFM(99.2 MHz) every Thursday afternoon at 3:30 pm.
EKasi is sponsored by GENSEC, Metropolitan Life, AVI and the Gauteng Department of Health. Kevin Humphreys of Gauteng Department of Health AIDS Media Unit says, "We consider the eKasi Aids Initiative as an integral part of our youth strategy aimed at changing sexual behaviour.
We are extremely grateful to the corporate sponsors who are allowing this project the reach that it has managed up until now, and look forward to further involvement from corporate South Africa".
EKasi is also distributed directly to 100 schools in Gauteng and by several HIV/AIDS NGOs. We are currently exploring every avenue we can get hold of, to make this worthwhile comic available all over South Africa and neighbouring countries
For those interested in knowing more about this project drop us an email or call at the below contact information.
Joe Manciya Program Director: HATMAL's eKasi Aids Initiative Email : joe@ekasi.org.za
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