Welcome to the Phezulu Podcast by UNICEF South Africa.
It’s been more than three-years since lockdown measures were announced in South Africa as a response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Literally overnight, millions of people had their lives and livelihoods thrown into uncertainty as everything came to a screeching halt. UNICEF South Africa (https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/) has been working with the government of South Africa and other partners to accelerate the recovery.
We tell the personal stories of how children and young people are determined to recover and build a safer, fairer, and better post pandemic South Africa. Off course the gamechanger, in the story of the recovery, was the introduction of the COVID-19 vaccines, which saved lives and opened up the country and world again.
This podcast series reflects on the challenges and broad ranging impact of COVID-19 on children and young people, as well as the response to help the youngest in society to survive and with the right support and opportunities to thrive.
Please join us on this journey. Phezulu. We are looking up.
For more information about this and other work by UNICEF South Africa please visit https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/ (https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/)
This podcast is made possible by UNICEF South Africa and was produced by SemaBOX.
This episode highlights the strain on the South African healthcare system during the COVID pandemic years and the lessons learnt to help build a more efficient, accessible and resilient health service.
It features the voices of :
Mercy Kamupira - UNICEF South Africa, Health Specialist
Pumla Ntlabati - UNICEF South Africa, Risk Communication and Community Engagement,
Lebogang Schultz – UNICEF South Africa, HIV Specialist
Thulani, 9 year old from JoBurg
Dr Dave Le Roux - Paediatrics Infectious diseases Epidemiologist based in Cape Town.
Phezulu, we're looking up.
For more information about us or our work please click here: https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/contact-us
3 Aug 2023
Towards Better Nutrition
In this episode, we focus on the unique challenges of child nutrition in South Africa, how it was impacted by COVID, and how a multi sectoral approach can provide better food security to vulnerable children.
Phezulu, we're looking up.
This episode features the voices of:
Luke Lamprecht - Child Protection and Development Specialist
Wandile Sihlobo - Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa
Dave Le Roux – Pediatrician
Tameka – 13-year-old, child whose parents lost income during the pandemic
Desiree – Tameka's mother, who lost income due to the pandemic
12 Jul 2023
Mental Health and Wellbeing
This week’s episode tells the story of the impact of the pandemic on the mental health and wellbeing of children and how South African society and government is now more aware of mental wellness and is making an effort to provide more support and care.
Phezulu we are looking Up.
This episode features the voices of:
Toby Fricker – UNICEF South Africa, Chief of Communication and Partnerships
Lungile Mdluli – UNICEF South Africa, ECD Specialist
Zola Chonco – Social Worker
Lukhwanyo 16 – Young person whose school was interrupted during lockdown
Tamika, 14 – Young person whose parents lost jobs due to lockdowns
Luke Lamprecht - neurodevelopmental specialist and child health practitioner
For more information please visit: https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/
27 Jun 2023
Building Back the Economy
On this episode we analyze the impact of the pandemic on South Africa’s economy and the effort that is currently being made to build back better and to drive job creation and increase income at the household level.
This episode features contributions from
Wandile Sihlobo – Wandile Sihlobo is the Chief Economist of the Agricultural Business Chamber of South Africa, JHB
Johannes Oostheizan – Worker, father who lost their job during the lockdowns
Brandon Oostheizen, 17 years.
Prof Mariam Seedat Khan – Certified clinical sociologists, accredited and certified by the Association for Applied and Clinical Sociology (AACS). Academic, practitioner, researcher, teacher, Durban.
13 Jun 2023
Knowing What's What
In this episode we explore how investment in digital literacy and online safety programs for all children can promote children's wellbeing in the wake of rampant mis and disinformation. And how platforms and government can collaborate to provide a safer more wholesome online experience for children.
Phezulu! We are looking up!
This episode features the voices of:
Janine Simon Meyer - Social Behavior Change and Risk Communication and Community Engagement Consultant, UNICEF
William Bird - Online Safety expert and Director Media Monitoring Africa
Thulani -8 year old from Jo'Burg
Tinotenda - 16 year old Web ranger who lives in Jo'burg.
6 Jun 2023
Building Back on Lost Hopes and Dreams
We begin our series by highlighting the impact of COVID-19 on the education sector in South Africa. We also analyze the lessons learned and take a critical look at the interventions that worked well for our society and the areas that need further investment.
This episode features the voices of:
Lukwanyo, 16-year-old from Cape Town and her mother Pamela,
Prof Mary Metcalfe, former member of the Executive Council for Education in Gauteng and Visiting fellow on the Soweto campus of the University of Johannesburg
Pheliswa – a Teacher whose school was interrupted by lockdowns and
Hanna Yoshimoto the UNICEF South Africa Chief of Education.
This podcast was made possible by UNICEF SOUTH AFRICA through the generous support of the German Federal Foreign Office and other partners.
Phezulu! We are Looking UP!
2 Apr 2023
Phezulu! We are looking UP!
This is the Phezulu Podcast Trailer. A podcast by UNICEF South Africa that tells the personal stories of how children and young people are determined to recover and build a safer, fairer, better post pandemic South Africa.
This first season relfects on how with the right support and opportunities, the youngest in society can thrive again.
Please join us on this journey as we build a brighter future.
Phezulu. We are looking up.
For more information please see the link below:
https://www.unicef.org/southafrica/contact-us
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