Teach informal settlers the ways and responsibilities of urban living.

Solutions to social problems, within our society,  may require a psychological analysis into the nature and/or the reason for the problem. 

A breakdown in communication may need to be addressed.

For instance; before flush toilets are installed or houses built, 

educate the users on how to maintain the toilets.

Make sure that the community has a maintenance team to handle repairs and cleaning.

Communities who are unwilling to learn how to maintain an infrastructure (like toilets) may have to be satisfied with alternatives - like long drops until they can organize themselves.

Alternatively, ask the community to come up with a solution. to their problem.

The same applies to receiving houses or schools and libraries.   Structures that are vandalized should not be re-built by the government.   Repairs should be the responsibility of the community, responsibility because they allowed it to happen.

Political parties should support each other in this respect for the sake of the people.

30% of programs on open television should be of a social educational nature.

People living in cities should learn bush-sense and people in informal settlements should learn

the responsibilities of city living.

Strike while the iron is hot!

While the television broadcasting corporation in South Africa is under scrutiny, it may be the right time to take responsibility the role television to can play in educating and guiding a nation.

What is regularly shown on television may have a long-term impact on the minds of the viewers.

“What we view on television today becomes our reality of tomorrow”

The power of audiovisual stimuli should never be underestimated; it can make or break a nation.

Television could be utilized to close a gap in education for both adults and children.

Taking responsibility, for the quality of programs to be offered to the public, need not break the budget.

There are many volunteers who will volunteer their service for little more than gratitude -- Volunteers who will welcome a chance to make a difference.

Free training and VBEE (Volunteer Broad-spectrum Economic Empowerment) points which could be cashed in for *government favors. (Like VBEE points in the piggy bank)

We could start moving away from financial rewards for all jobs done.


People no longer need to travel to capital cities and stay over in expensive hotels to conference, or having the inconvenience of leaving their home towns.

Conferencing can take place in 'virtual conference settings' using computerized electronic media.

Volunteers can overview what is being offered, to the public, on the television screens. A team of psychologists, elders and other experts can determine the effect the viewing will have on the nation.

They can be trained and provided with the necessary computer equipment to attend virtual meetings or conferences.

Electronic conferencing can be launched from local libraries if the volunteers are unable to participate due to insecure living conditions or computer-illiteracy.

There are many ways to get the elders and other experts from all over the world together to nation-build.

Local librarians and teachers can be trained to help the volunteers with this task. It could be considered their duty to nation-build without expecting remuneration.

A VBEE piggy-bank system can here also be implemented to be used as bargaining points for promotion.

Africans can help other Africans to become proudly African again. They can learn to respect themselves and others again. We have so many damaged people in the country and on the continent.

People are damaged because of their past experiences as freedom fighters, child soldiers, poverty, drugs, immorality, illiteracy and violence. They need to learn what is normal and what thoughts are healthy and what is destructive to them and their environment.

We need to heal in order to respect and honor again.
We need to reach out to fill education gaps when a system breaks down or is not yet in place.

Television can become a powerful nation-building tool.

A few local soaps with a morale building script, instead of one that is based on divorce, back stabbing, murder and cheating can provide a great influence on the minds of the viewers.

People follow the examples of their idols.

We need to create heroes with a high code of ethics -- Heroes who are nation-builders.

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* VBEE points could be given to people who make a difference without receiving financial rewards for their service.

Suggestions of how volunteers can be remunerated by using VBEE points (Volunteer Broad-based Economic Empowerment) points

VBEE points could be like money in a bank and could be electronically loaded onto a debit card.
VBEE points could be used to increase one’s VIP status.
VBEE points count towards job promotions.
VBEE currency could buy a percentage of their rates and taxes.
VBEE points could buy entry to government and municipal facilities like museums and reserves.
Etc.

Original post: (http://sites.google.com/site/unityinafrica/television-to-heal-a-nation)